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Artificial veg colouring detected during govts’ enforcement activities
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Wednesday, 26 June, 2019, 13 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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FSSAI has stated that instances of the sale or supply of sub-standard and adulterated food items, the use of excess chemicals, the artificial colouring of vegetables, the presence of pesticides or insecticides residues in fruits and vegetables beyond prescribed MRLs (maximum residue levels), etc., were detected during the enforcement activities undertaken by the State/UT (Union Territory) governments . Such instances were reported to FSSAI through various other channels.
To check adulteration in vegetable items and in other food products, the governments of state and UTs regularly conduct surveillance and enforcement drives and conduct regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products to check that they comply with the standards laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules and regulations made thereunder. In cases where the food samples are found to be non-conforming, recourse is taken to penal provisions under Chapter IX of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Further, the consumer is being educated about detection of adulteration and steps to be taken for reducing the harmful effects of chemicals, etc. To combat adulteration in commonly adulterated food items, such as milk, spices and condiments, honey, water, oils and fats, FSSAI has released a Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test (DART) which is a compilation of common quick tests for detection of food adulterants at the household level by the citizens themselves, so as to create awareness among the consumers about food safety.
Consumers are also being educated about importance of washing fruits and vegetables before consumption to avoid the harmful effects of pesticides/insecticides residue in fruits and vegetables. FSSAI has also asked the state and UT food safety commissioners to undertake awareness campaigns on pesticides/insecticides residues in fruits and vegetables.
Guidance notes for guidance of consumers have also been issued on various topics such as artificial ripening of fruits, stickers on fruits and vegetables, pulses and beans and many other topics. These are available on the FSSAI website.
This information was given in a written reply by Ram Vilas Paswan, minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, in Lok Sabha today.
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