Buyers fleeced amid sweet makers’ weighing game

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 16

Amid a rise in the demand of sweets during the festive season, the consumers are being fleeced heavily by sweet shops as traders weigh boxes (around 180 gm) along with sweets, a practice that buyers tend to ignore.

Health officials have cracked the whip on those involved in food adulteration by sealing six units in one week, but this ‘weigh game’ hasn’t attracted the attention of the authorities concerned yet.

Almost all the sweet makers in the city indulge in such a practice and the buyers end up paying for the cardboard boxes. The weight of the box is sometimes more than 200 gm as it depends upon the quality of the cardboard and the number of partitions made in it. 

Laddoos cost Rs 400 per kg. If the weight of the box is 180 gm, the customer pays Rs 72 extra as he/she gets only 880 gm of laddoos for Rs 400.

As the price of sweet increases, so does the cost of the box. For a barfi costing Rs 600 per kg, the customer has to pay Rs 108 for the box that cost him Rs 72 for ladoos.

As per the metrology rules, it is against the law to weigh box along with sweets. The law states that sweet sellers have to first measure the weight of a box before placing sweets ordered by the customer and afterwards have to deduct the weight of the box to adjust the weight of the sweet.

The law also states that in case of violation by the sweet seller, the customer has the right to file a complaint with the Legal Metrology under Department of Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs. As most of the customers are not aware of the rules, they end up paying more.

An advocate, Kuljit Singh Malawali, said, “Most of the people, who know everything, too, are embarrassed to point out the traders. People will have to raise their voice. The matter can be pursued only if a person files a complaint.”

District Health Officer Dr Lakhbir Singh Bhagowalia said the matter would be brought to the notice of senior officials of the district administration so that customers’ rights are protected. He said that it would be discussed in the next meeting on food safety with district officials.