616 products in Karnataka adulterated or wrongly branded

Bengaluru: Remember the recent scare about ready-to-eat food, which were said to be unsafe? According to data, in Karnataka, in the last three years, 616 products were found adulterated or wrongly branded, raising questions over food safety.

Findings furnished by the Union Health and Family Welfare, based on information provided by the state government, showed that the highest number of cases were booked in 2014-15, with the registration of 311 cases of adulteration/ wrong branding.

Based on the findings, 56 criminal cases are now registered. Interestingly 311 cases of food adulteration were found after the analysis of 2,110 samples.

“This data is up to September 2014. More cases were registered after this period. This data shows that there is an urgent need for clamping down on those who are producing substandard food items,” said an officer from the health department.

According to  sources, by and large, daily foods like oils, milk and milk products are found adulterated or wrongly branded. “Adulteration was detected even in dals and pulses,” said an officer who is familiar with the developments.

According to the data, compared to the rest of the states in the country, the number of samples analyzed in the state are  low, raising questions over the effectiveness of the implementation of the Food Safety act.

In 2014-15, in Madhya Pradesh, 9,131 samples were analyzed. In Uttar Pradesh the number was 9,605,  in Maharashtra, 6,985, and Andhra Pradesh, 2,788. Andhra Pradesh has initiated criminal proceedings in 338 findings and civil proceedings in 78 findings. Maharashtra launched criminal proceedings against 869 cases and civil proceedings in 1,426 cases.

“In Karnataka the commission on food safety is plagued by several problems, including shortage of staff and experts. The need of the hour is for us to follow  the footsteps of our neighboring states to make food items safer,” he added.