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Food Adaltaretion
Food Adaltaretion
Food Adulteration the act of adding or mixing something inferior, harmful, useless and
unnecessary substance to food. In other words, any food item may be considered as
adulterated if its nature and quality are not up to the standard. Unscrupulous traders
normally adulterate food. In the process of adulteration, extraneous matters are directly
added to food grains. Sands and crushed rock are added to increase weight. Mixing
infested and damaged grains to good quality grains is a common practice. Sometimes
grain polishing and husks are added to increase the weight. Nowadays, plastic beads that
have the shape of food grains are often mixed with cereal grains. Coloured beads are
added to the pulses. Sometimes water is sprayed over the grain stock to increase the
weight.
Adulteration of fats and oils is easy and cannot be easily detected. Ghee (butter oil) is
adulterated with hydrogenated oil and animal fats. Recently, because of the discovery of
synthetic colours and flavours, any fat can be made to look like ghee and customers may
easily be cheated. Til oil and coconut oil are often mixed with groundnut or cottonseed
oil as the latter are cheaper. Mustard seeds are often mixed with argemone seeds and
extracted together. Argemone oil contains an alkaloid-sanguinarine which is highly toxic
and results in dropsy and paralysis. Adding allylisothiocyanate to soybean oil or palm oil
gives the characteristic pungent smell of mustard oil. Mixing of palm oil with soybean oil
is a common practice among dishonest traders for more profits.
The adulteration of milk is normally done with the addition of water and removal of fat.
Sometimes extraneous substances like soybean and groundnut milk, wheat flour, etc are
mixed. Selling diluted buffalo milk as cow milk is a common practice in rural areas.
Addition of wheat flour, semolina, etc to milk powder is also common.
tea leaves may be adulterated with the addition of used tea leaves, sawdust, and dried and
ground leaves other than tea leaves. Spices like chillies and turmeric powder are
adulterated with the addition of lead pigment to impart brightness in colour and good
appearance. Metanil yellow, a carcinogenic agent, is used for colouring turmeric powder.
chilli powder is normally adulterated by adding brick powder. Excessive use of wheat
flour in place of milk protein (chhana) in the preparation of sweetmeat is an example of
adulteration. Use of carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) in lieu of liquid glucose or sugar
syrup in the preparation of soft drinks is an example of extortion. In the name of various
fruit juices, imitation products are prepared by using artificial and prohibited ingredients
instead of using original fruit juice. Recently, a special drink named mineral water is
being prepared and marketed with little or no assurance of quality. [M Kabirullah]
3. If the article has been prepared, packed or kept under insanitary conditions
9. If the quality nor purity of the article falls below prescribed standard
What is Food ?
Food is what we eat food provides us various nutrients to regulate our body processes,
protect us from diseases and satisfies our lunges which give us a sense of psychological
satisfaction. In the III Chapter of Shreemad Bhagwat Geeta there is a line "Anant
Bhawati Bhootanee" which means "the human being is made from food". This statement
is true become everything in your body was once the food you ate. Pure food gives us
health, happiness, efficiency and longevity. Pure food is what it is represented to be ; it
should be wholesome and do all the good it should do and be free from anything that
does any harm or might impair its goodness. The nature, quantity and quality of food pay
a vital role in the maintenance of health of individuals.
Preparation and processing of food products may modify their nutritional value and use
of food additives may introduce direct or indirect toxicity, but the real hazards to health
are caused food adulteration. In order to curb the menace of food adulteration,
Government of India introduced the prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 with
prevention of Food Adulteration rules 1955. Government of Gujarat in 1961 introduced
the Gujarat prevention of food adulteration rules. The object of this food legislation is to
prevent adulteration and misbranding of foods as defined there in and punish responsible
one because it is crime against humanity. The social evil of fraudulently selling
adulterated food stuffs not only affects the health of the citizens but tends to demoralize
the whole nation and greviously obstructs its moral & economic progress. The provisions
of the act are directed for the purpose of securing purity of food and to inform purchasers
of what they are buying and they must be construed to effect such purpose.
Definitions :
Any article used as food or drink for human consumption other than drugs and water
includes.
(a) any article which ordinarily enters into, or is used in the composition or preparation of
human food.
(c) Any other article which the central Government may, having regard to its use, nature,
suistance or quality, declare by notification in the Official Gazette, as food for the
purposes of this Act.
Food is essential for life. It should be pure, nutritious and free from any type of
adulteration for proper maintenance of human health.
Food
Adulterant Simple Method for Detecting the Adulterant
Article
Water
Put a drop of milk on polished vertical surface. The drop of
pure milk either stops or flows slowly leaving a white trail
behind it. Whereas milk adulterated with water will flow
immediately without leaving a mark.
Milk
Mustard Argemone Argemone seeds have rough surface and mustard seeds on
Seeds Seeds pressing is yellow inside while argemone seed is white.
Put some lemon juice, bubbles are observed on the presence
Ice Cream Washing Powder
of washing powder
Dissolve sugar in a glass of water, chalk will settle down at
Sugar Chalk
the bottom, similarly for salt
On ignition genuine silver foil burns away completely leaving
Silver Foil Aluminium Foil glistening white spherical ball of the same mass while
aluminum foil is reduced to ashes of black Grey colour.
Honey Water A cotton wick dipped in pure honey burns when ignited with a
match stick. If adulterated presence of water will not allow
the honey to burn, if it does will produce a cracking sound.
Gently sprinkle the coffee powder on surface of water in a
glass. The coffee floats over the water but chicory begins to
Coffee Chicory sink down within few seconds. The falling chicory powder
particles leave behind them a trail of colour, due to large
amount of caramel they contain
Coloured leaves
Rub leaves on white paper, artificial colour comes out on
paper.
For HCL you can use Tezab /Acid at your home, used for cleaning toilets. For acetone , you may use
look nail polish remover.
The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 aims at making provisions for the
prevention of adulteration of food. The Act extends to the whole of India and came into
force on 1st June 1955.
if any inferior or cheaper substance has been substituted wholly or partly for the article,
or any constituent of the article has been wholly or partly abstracted from it, so as to
affecting its quality or of it is so processed as to injuriously affect its nature, substance or
quality;
if the article had been prepared, packed or kept under insanitary conditions whereby it
has become contaminated or injurious to health;
if the article consists wholly or in part of any filthy, putrid, disgusting, rotten,
decomposed or diseased animal or vegetable substance or being insect-infested, or is
otherwise unfit for human consumption;
if the article contains any poisonous or other ingredient which is injurious to health;
if the container of the article is composed of any poisonous or deleterious substance
which renders its contents injurious to health;
if the article contains any prohibited colouring matter or preservative, or any permitted
colouring matter or preservative in excess of the prescribed limits;
if the quality or purity of the article falls below the prescribed standard, or its constituents
are present in proportions other standard, or its constituents are present in proportions
other than those prescribed, whether or not rendering it injurious to health.
Thus, additions of water to milk amount to adulteration, within the meaning of sub-
clauses (b) or (c).
if, when sold in sealed or prepared packages by its manufacturer, the contents of each
package are not conspicuously and correctly stated on the outside thereof;
if the package containing it is deceptive with respect to its contents, in any manner, such
as label, statement, design or device which is misleading,
if the package containing it, or the label thereon, bears the name of a fictitious individual
or company as the manufacturer or producer of the article,
if it purports to be, or is represented as being for special dietary uses, unless its label
bears the prescribed information concerning its dietary properties,
if it contains any artificial flavouring, colouring or chemical preservatives without
declaring the same on the label, or in violation of the requirements of this Act and the
Rules made thereunder, and
if it is not labelled in accordance with the requirements of this Act and the Rules made
thereunder.
The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 is the primary law which protects consumers
against adulterated food stuffs. It is similar to the FDA of the United States in operation. The
Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 is applicable not just to domestic food stuffs but also to
imported food stuffs. It covers carious aspects of food processing such as food colour,
preservatives, pesticide residues, packaging and labeling and regulation of sales. The law is
enforced by the Additional Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare of the Central Government.
Click here for more details on the Prevention of Food adulteration Act
The Essential Commodities Act is another law which is applicable to the food processing
industry. This acts provides for the control of the production, supply and distribution of and trade
and commerce in certain essential commodities, including foodstuffs under emergency and
exceptional situations such as acute scarcity, national security, etc.
The act of storing an adulterated article of food would be an offence only if storing is for
sale. The sale of a part of the stored article constitutes an offence distinct and independent
from the offence of storing for sale.
The package, label or the advertisement of edible oils and fats shall not use the
expressions Super-Refined, Extra-Refined, Micro-Refined, Double-Refined, Ultra-
Refined, Anti-Cholesterol, Cholesterol Fighter, Soothing to Heart, Cholesterol Friendly,
Saturated Fat Free or such other expressions which are exaggerations of the quality of the
product. (Rule 37 D).
For example, cream which has not been prepared exclusively from milk, milk which
contains any added water, ghee which contains any added matter not exclusively derived
from milk fat, a mixture of two or more edible oils as an edible oil and turmeric
containing any foreign substances, etc. (Rule 44)
RESTRICTION ON SALE OF GHEE having less than specified Reichert value except
under the "AGMARK" seal. (Rule 46).
Any food item resembling honey, but not pure honey, shall not be marked "honey". (Rule
45).
RESTRICTION ON SALE OF KANGRA TEA except only after it is graded and marked
in accordance with the provisions of Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marketing) Act,
1937 and the Rules made thereunder. (Rule 44E).
Class II preservatives such as Benzoic acid and its salts, sodium diacetate and sodium,
potassium and calcium salts of lactic acid, etc. can be used only restrictively. Use of more
than one Class II preservative is prohibited.
CONDITIONS FOR SALE OF A FOOD ARTICLE, Every utensil or container, used for
manufacturing, preparing or containing any food or ingredients therefor, and second hand
tin containers for packaging of edible oils and fats, meant for sale, shall be maintained in
a clean and sanitary condition, away from impure air or dust, properly covered at all
times, and such utensils or containers shall not be used for any other purpose. Use of
rusty containers, improperly tinned copper or brass containers, containers of aluminium
or plastic not conforming to ISI specifications, etc., in preparation of food, is also
prohibited. Besides, certain special conditions for sale of certain articles such as
asafoetida, salseed fat, lactic acid, edible oils, katha, margarine, milk powder, etc. have
also been laid down.
With effect from 22.2.95, on person shall sell powdered spices except in packed form. No
person shall sell or serve food in any commercial establishment in plastic articles used in
catering and cutlery, unless the plastic material used in catering and cutlery articles,
conform to the food grade plastic.
A purchaser of any article of food, or a recognised consumer association, may also get an
article of food analysed by the public analyst on payment of the prescribed fees, provided
that the vendor is informed of this intended action at the time of purchase. Thereafter, the
purchaser or the consumer associations, have to follow the same procedure as discussed
above in the case of Food Inspectors. If the article of food is found to be adulterated, the
fees paid by the purchaser or the association shall be refunded
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
Import, manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of any food article which is adulterated
by allowing its quality or purity to fall below the prescribed standard, or is misbranded,
or in contravention of any provision of the Act or Rules. Penalty is minimum
imprisonment of six months that may extend upto 3 years and minimum fine of Rs 1000.
Import, manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of any adulterant not injurious to health.
Penalty is minimum imprisonment of six months that may extend upto 3 years and
minimum fine of Rs 1000
Import, manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of any food article which is adulterated
within the meaning of any of the sub-clauses(e) to (l) of section 2(ia); or any adulterant
which is injurious to health. Penalty is minimum imprisonment of one year that may
extend upto 6 years and minimum fine of Rs 2000
Sale or distribution of any food article containing any poisonous or other ingredient
injurious to health, which is likely to cause death or grievous bodily harm. Penalty is
minimum imprisonment of three years that may extend upto life and minimum fine of Rs
5000
PUNISHMENT
Whoever adulterates any food or drinks intended for sale shall be punished with
imprisonment which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to
one thousand rupees, or both.
Besides the CRPC the Food Adulteration Act, makes provisions for the
prevention of adulteration of food. Food inspectors appointed by the Central and
State Governments are empowered to take samples from any person selling,
conveying or delivering such article to a purchaser or consignee, and from a
consignee after receiving delivery, and send such sample to the public analyst.
A purchaser of any article of food, or a recognised consumer association, may
also get an article of food analysed by the public analyst on payment of the
prescribed fees, provided that the vendor is informed of this intended action at
the time of purchase. Thereafter, the purchaser or the consumer associations,
have to follow the same procedure as discussed above in the case of Food
Inspectors. If the article of food is found to be adulterated, the fees paid by the
purchaser or the association shall be refunded.
Import, manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of any food article which is
adulterated by allowing its quality or purity to fall below the prescribed standard,
or is misbranded, or in contravention of any provision of the Act or Rules. Penalty
is minimum imprisonment of six months that may extend upto 3 years and
minimum fine of Rs 1000 under the Food Adulteration Act.
272. Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale
Whoever adulterates any article of food or drink, so as to make such article noxious as
food or drink, intending to sell such article as food or drink, or knowing it to be likely
that the same will be sold as food or drink, shall be punished with imprisonment of either
description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to
one thousand rupees, or with both.
STATE AMENDMENTS
In sections 272, 273, 274, 275 and 276 for the words "shall be punished with
imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with
fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both" the following shall be
substituted, namely:-
"shall be punished with imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine:
Provided that the court may, for adequate reason to be mentioned in the judgement,
impose a sentence of imprisonment which is less than imprisonment tot- life."
In its application to the State of West Bengal in sections 272, 273, 274, 275 and 276 for
the words "of either description tot, a term which may extend to six months, or with fine
which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both" the following shall be
substituted, namely:-
Provided that the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the
judgment. impose a sentence of imprisonment which is less than imprisonment for life."