Unsafe food

HARYANA direly needs to set its house in order as far as food safety is concerned. Regular inspections by the state’s Food and Drugs Administration have found blatant violation of rules and regulations, particularly in the case of milk and milk products like butter, ghee, paneer, khoya and ice cream. Of the 104 milk samples collected between January and October 2024, over 46 per cent failed the quality test. Among milk products, 30 per cent of the samples were declared unsafe, substandard or misbranded. The quality of sweets, cereals, pulses, spices and edible oils has also come under a cloud. That sums up the plight of the consumer, who unsuspectingly buys foodstuffs from the neighbourhood kirana store or mithai shop, or relies on apps for his daily needs.

Food safety is an issue that doesn’t crop up during any election, unless a large number of people fall ill or lose their lives. There is generally no hue and cry by political leaders over the adulterated products that we eat or drink as a matter of routine. Raids are conducted, fines imposed and cases registered, yet things are back to square one once the dust settles. The intensity of monitoring during the festive season is not replicated during the rest of the year. Unscrupulous elements resume their business whenever the authorities take their foot off the pedal.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India offers financial and technical support to states/UTs for improving the food testing ecosystem, but much depends on how seriously the state authorities take their job. It is critical that no one should go hungry; at the same time, no one’s health should be compromised by the consumption of unsafe food.