Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Dec 19:In a criminal silence, the Food and Durg Control office in Srinagar didn’t make public a report of the Central Food Laboratory Kolkata about a leading milk brand being sub-standard, unsafe and misbranded.
The Deputy Food and Drug Control office in Srinagar headed by Dr Nazir Ahmad Wani leaked the report of the Central Food Laboratory Kolkata to a section of the press only after Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) issued a statement to the media about Fennel (Saunf) powder manufactured M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag containing colouring agents Carmoisine and Tartrazine.
The sample of the Khyber milk, manufacturer, Khyber Agro Farms, lifted by Food and Drug Controller Department from Budgam in July this year was sent to Central Food Laboratory Kolkata for analysis. The report (dated November 25, 2013) was not made public by the department despite clear direction from Minister of Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan, that reports of testing laboratories about drugs and food products should be made public once they are received form testing laboratories.
The Central Food Laboratory Kolkata report about the Khyber Milk states that besides containing detergent, the sample has failed to conform to various other standards stipulated under laws and regulations.
The report while terming the sample as sub-standard, unsafe and misbranded, reads: “The sample does not conform to the standards as laid down under Regulation no. 2.1.1(1) of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products and Food Additive) Regulations, 2011, since the sample shows milk fat and B.R. at 40 C (Extracted fat) lower than the prescribed limit. It also contravenes regulation no. 2.2.2(10) and 2.2.2.4 (iii) of Food Safety and Standards (Packing and Labeling) Regulations, 2011, for not mentioning best-before date and symbol of veg. food on the label.”
Sources said that the report was not made public as the company that manufactures the milk is one of the leading companies of Kashmir valley with lot of political influence. “The FDC office came under influence and didn’t make report public despite clear directions from the Minister”, sources said.
Sources said there is lot of pressure from the two leading companies of Kashmir, whose products have been found unsafe for human consumption, on the Government officials to hush up the matter.
Despite political pressure, sources said that the SMC is seeking permission from the Ministry to prosecute the manufactured M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag, in the court of law.
However, a meeting of the local administration and the manufacturers was held at Divisional Commissioner’s Office in Srinagar this evening where the officers have been directed not to leak any information to the media about the food products being unsafe for human consumption.
However, Doctors Association Kashmir, that had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on spurious drugs early this year, is filing a PIL in Jammu and Kashmir High Court against the manufacturers of adulterated food so that “culprits are taken to task and precious human lives are saved”.
President Doctors Association Kashmir Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said here that it is shocking to know that after spurious drugs it is adulterated food in the State. “It is painful to know that over 50 samples have failed in tests in last two months by the analytic reports of food and drug testing laboratory Dalgate. It is distressing to know that food items contain filth and foreign matter like sand, clay,” Dr Hassan said.
The DAK president said that the adulterated food items are health hazard which can cancer, cardiac problems, liver disorders, kidney failure, GI disturbances, paralysis and other neurological problems and even death.
“It is because of these adulterated food items that various cancers are on rise in Kashmir. This malicious practice of food adulteration is a heinous crime as it takes precious lives. This is intolerable and unacceptable,” said DAK president.
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