|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rajasthan to write letters to pan masala makers for presence of tobacco
|
|
Friday, 15 November, 2019, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Vijetha Iyer, Mumbai
|
The Health Department, Rajasthan, has decided to write letters to manufacturers of pan masalas in the state for presence of magnesium carbonate, nicotine, tobacco and mineral oil in their products. The Government of Rajasthan had recently banned the use of these four substances in pan masalas.
It was found that despite the ban on magnesium carbonate, two companies were still using the substance in their products, thereby risking the lives of customers. Three samples of pan masalas of these two companies were found unsafe for consumption.
In this regard, in view of the ban, the Health Department had collected 16 samples - 10 were pan masalas and six were sweet supari. From among them, the results of four pan masalas are out. One sample has passed the quality test, while four others did not fail, they were found to be contravened.
The pan masalas which failed the quality test were collected from a shop at Nursery Circle in Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur, two samples were collected from a shop in Deenanathji Ki Gali in the Chand Pole Market locality of the city.
Revealing the details to FnB News, K K Sharma, food safety commissioner, Rajasthan, said, “Firstly, those companies will have to pay a penalty, and then the case will be presented in the court. After that, all their products will be banned completely in Rajasthan. If the company is proved guilty by the court, then it may have to pay a fine ranging between Rs 50,000 and Rs 5 lakh. The promoters of those companies may be imprisoned for a term ranging between six months to three years.”
He added, “We collected many samples of pan masalas. The results are awaited. Last year, we collected 310 pan masala samples from our neighbouring areas. Of these, 199 were found unsafe for human consumption.”
Throwing more light, Sharma stated, “We had started the Shudh Ke Liye Yudh campaign, which was there from October 3 to November 1. During this campaign, we collected samples of mawa, maida, paneer, paan masalas, gutka and supari to check if they were adulterated or not. The results of these items are yet to come. However, adulteration seems to have increased these days.”
Offering his point of view, Dr H G Koshia, food safety commissioner, Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA), Gujarat, said, “Tobacco and nicotine are banned ingredients along with magnesium carbonate and mineral oil.”
He added, “If these ingredients are consumed, people will suffer many health hazards, which may lead to dangerous diseases like cancer. The health department should inform FSSAI regarding these companies rather than sending a written letter to those companies.”
Dr Koshia stated, “The food authority should take appropriate action against them. The manufacturing and the production of these products should stop. The sales of the product should stop immediately.”
Meanwhile, a representative of the trade, Hrithik Halkara, senior executive, modern trade department, Chandan Mukhwas, said, “The products which the companies sell should be safe for consumption.Tobacco and all these ingredients are harmful for health, so we make sure that our products are 100 per cent safe for human consumption.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|