The presence of any foreign substance, which
does not occur naturally in food products, can be injurious to health, chemical
additives like oxytocin, formalin, urea and detergents can especially cause
considerable damage to human body over a period of time and lead to cancer,
skin diseases and other debilitating disorders.
For instance, for vegetables coated with wax or
paraffin, the FDA advises dipping them in lukewarm water for 10 minutes. Wax,
if present, will rise to the surface. Similarly, scratching the surface of
vegetables can detect the presence of artificial colour, while an insect,
failing to sit on the surface of vegetables for prolonged periods indicates the
exposure of vegetables to pesticides. In the case of fruits, milk, milk
products and other daily consumables, the FDA has issued similar advisories,
and has also requested people to report any adulteration of food or medicines
to officials from the department.
The Moral of and food
adulterating/contaminating practicener
They won’t able to think about their own family
& children are facing the same cause from which they selling to others. You
won’t bring back your family and others health. Won’t play with the others
health, all is not money.
Prevention of Food
Adulteration Act, 1954
INTRODUCTION
Food is one of the basic
necessities for sustenance of life. Pure, fresh and healthy diet is most
essential for the health of the people. It is no wonder to say that community
health is national wealth.
Adulteration
of food-stuffs was so rampant, widespread and persistent that nothing short of
a somewhat drastic remedy in the form of a comprehensive legislation became the
need of the hour. To check this kind of anti-social evil a concerted and
determined onslaught was launched by the Government by introduction of the
Prevention of Food Adulteration Bill in the Parliament to herald an era of much
needed hope and relief for the consumers at large.
Govt. Institutions
for sample testing
Food Research &
Standardisation Laboratory, Ghaziabad
Food Research and
Standardisation Laboratory, Ghaziabad was established in 1971 under Directorate
General of Health Services / Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to check the
adulteration and to undertake analysis of food samples from market for the
purpose of determining their quality and purity.
Central Food Laboratory, Kolkata
Central Food
Laboratory, Kolkata was established in 1955 under Directorate General of Health
Services, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi KYD Street
The
punishments under the law
The provisions of sub-section (1A) if any
person—whether by himself or by any other person on his behalf, imports into
India or manufactures for sales or stores, sells or distributes any article of
food—
Which is
adulterated within the meaning of sub-clause (the quality or purity of the
article falls below the prescribed standard) or misbranded within the meaning
that section or the sale of which is prohibited under any provision of this Act
or any rule made there under or by an order of the Food (Health) Authority?
He should be punished by a sentence of imprisonment
for a term which may extend to three months and with fine which may extend to
five hundred rupees.
The higher punishment under this law shall be
the imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which
may extend to term of life and with fine which shall not be less than five
thousand rupees.
The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA),
passed by Parliament in 2006, replaced the erstwhile Prevention of Food
Adulteration Act (PFAA) with effect from August 5, 2011 . This means that all
traders should obtain the new licence by August 4, 2012 failing which they will
attract a six-month imprisonment along with a hefty penalty.
