‘War for Pure’: India prosecutes 31 for adulteration after just 54% of samples found to be safe

By Pearly Neo

- Last updated on GMT

The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has prosecuted 31 food and beverage manufacturers for adulteration under the National Security Act (NSA), following test results that revealed just 54% of all food samples tested so far to be safe for consumption. ©Getty Images
The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has prosecuted 31 food and beverage manufacturers for adulteration under the National Security Act (NSA), following test results that revealed just 54% of all food samples tested so far to be safe for consumption. ©Getty Images
The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has prosecuted 31 food and beverage manufacturers for adulteration under the National Security Act (NSA), following test results that revealed just 54% of all food samples tested so far to be safe for consumption.

According to official documentation from the Madhya Pradesh Department of Public Relations, this was part of an ongoing ‘ War for Pure’ campaign to battle adulteration in the state.

“Action has been taken against 31 traders [under] the National Security Act so far in the war campaign [being] run against adulterated food manufacturers and sellers,”​ stated Mukesh Modi from the department, who published the statement.

“[This campaign has been ongoing] since July 19 in Madhya Pradesh, and under the campaign a total of 6,463 samples including milk, milk products, other food items and pan masala have been collected so far.”

Of these samples, the test results of 1,484 items have been released, of which only 803 items, or 54% in total, were found to be ‘of standard level’ or safe for consumption.

“Within the remaining samples, 491 (33.1%) were found to violate current food safety standards, whereas the rest were either ‘unsafe’, had ‘restricted levels’ of adulterants, found to give false positives or were inadmissible,”​ he added.

Under the campaign, 87 other food and beverage adulterators had also been registered in the central Indian state.

In a separate statement, Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Sudhi Ranjan Mohanty called for ‘strict action’ against adulteration, calling this ‘nothing less than a heinous crime against human life and health​’ and instructing that the campaign be intensified.

“Laboratories [in] milk federations and pharmacy colleges should also be used for testing the samples,”​ he said.

Trader fears

Despite the campaign’s noble intentions, it was initially met with trepidation by many food and beverage companies in the state, leading to the authorities issuing a series of statements to reassure the public that ‘only adulterators’​ would be affected.

“Honest traders need not fear, only those who adulterate their food and milk products will have action taken against them,” ​said Madhya Pradesh Minister of Health and Family Welfare Tusi Ram Silawat.

“[Strict] action will be taken against officials [if complaints are received about them] harassing those who buy and sell ‘pure’, non-adulterated foods,”

Silawat made the statements after a memorandum was submitted to the Ministry of Minority Affairs and Backward Classes regarding purported harassment by officials running the campaign.

“The government has no intention of disturbing anyone unnecessarily [and] guarantees that any [honest] businessman can do business fearlessly without being bothered.”

Alcohol adulterators also to be prosecuted under NSA

Madhya Pradesh is not the first state in India to implement legal action against food adulteration under the NSA – earlier this year, Uttar Pradesh also passed amendments​ to laws governing liquor adulteration, allowing for prosecution under this act.

 “Under the new law, licence[s] will be cancelled in the first instance and a case will be registered under sections 272, 273 and 304 of the Indian Penal Code against the [accused]. The Excise department will [also] register cases under the NSA and Gangster Act,”​ said Principal Secretary (Excise) Sanjay Bhoosreddy.

Section 272 covers the adulteration of food and drink intended for retail, and 273 covers the sale of ‘noxious’ food and drink unfit for consumption. Section 304 covers punishment for those ‘culpable to homicide not amounting to murder’ and could carry a life imprisonment term, or up to 10 years in jail and a penalty, depending on the severity of the offence.

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Elevate your snacks with novel cheese flavours

Elevate your snacks with novel cheese flavours

Content provided by Givaudan | 23-Feb-2024 | Product Brochure

Aside from conducting desk research to understand snacking preferences and taste profiles among consumers in the Asia Pacific, Givaudan also embarked on...

Analyzing the unknown threat from Microplastics

Analyzing the unknown threat from Microplastics

Content provided by Agilent Technologies | 06-Nov-2023 | Infographic

Microplastics are any plastic-derived synthetic solid particle or polymeric matrix, ranging in size from 1 µm to 5 mm and insoluble in water.

Functional Beverage Market Insights in ASPAC

Functional Beverage Market Insights in ASPAC

Content provided by Glanbia Nutritionals | 06-Jul-2023 | Product Brochure

High growth ahead for protein beverages makes Asia Pacific (ASPAC) the market to watch. Consumer research shows new usage occasions, key consumption barriers,...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars

Food & Beverage Trailblazers