The current storm raging across the country over Maggi containing chemicals beyond permissible limits is just the tip of the iceberg.
The popular noodle brand is in the limelight for wrong reasons since the last few days after tests indicated the presence of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and lead higher than the permissible levels.
But random sample survey conducted in the city by the Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) in the past indicated that more than 50 per cent of the samples tested were adulterated with chemicals that were carcinogenic.
In the light of the present controversy over the noodles, the local authorities should also crack down on rampant adulteration of other commonly consumed food ingredients which has larger health implications, said Bhamy V. Shenoy, founder president of the MGP.
He pointed out that the MGP took sample surveys annually for almost 15 years and it was found that more than 50 per cent of the samples tested were found to be adulterated. Rava, toor, moong dal, chilli powder, tea and other commonly consumed ingredients had chemicals, said Mr. Shenoy.
The MGP working president, R. Chandra Prakash, said that apart from tea and other edible items, most sweets prepared and sold in the market had artificial colours with a high level of chemicals that are carcinogenic.
Artificial colours
In one of the surveys conducted by the MGP, 400 samples of commonly used edible items were collected from 38 shops across the city and the samples were sent to a laboratory for analysis. It was found that 26 per cent of the samples collected for toor dal were coloured with Metanil Yellow, a dye used in leather, paper and textile industry but banned in food industry as it is highly carcinogenic. Used tea mixed with artificial colour like tantrazine was another practice rampant in the city and unearthed by the MGP. Chromate was another chemical found in the sampled ingredients.
The MGP stopped the annual sampling testing exercise a few years ago as the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) did nothing about it, said Mr. Shenoy. “Collecting samples and getting them tested in the laboratory costs money and the MGP did it out of public interest but it evoked no positive response from the local authorities and hence it stopped such surveys”, he added.
‘No case filed yet’
Despite rampant adulteration and scientifically tested laboratory results, not a single case on adulteration has been filed by the local authorities so far, according to the MGP.
But in the light of the present controversy, it will conduct a survey again within a month and get samples tested in the laboratory to assess the latest situation. “But the ground reality has not altered and the situation has gone from bad to worse in terms of adulteration, especially oil”, said Chandra Prakash.
NGO to conduct a survey within a month and get samples of food items tested in the laboratory to assess the latest situation
