Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 16: In a startling revelation, the Laboratory test of a spice, manufactured by one of the leading spice brands in the State, has found it unfit for the human consumption as it contains carcinogenic chemicals.
The Health Officer Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Dr Shafaqat Khan, told Excelsior that the SMC will produce a charge sheet before the court against the manufacturer, M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag, tomorrow under Food Safety Standards Act 2006. “The manufacturer may face arrest as this is a serious crime involving public health”, disclosed Khan.
The Health Officer said that the manufacturer of the Food item has been directed to immediately withdraw all stock of the food items from the market that contains colouring matter. “The general public has been cautioned to refrain from use of the spice immediately”, he added.
Khan said that laboratory test of Saunf powder manufactured by M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag found it unsafe and misbranded, containing added colouring matter – Carmoisine and Tartrazine.
Khan said a sample of Saunf powder manufactured by M/S Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag bearing lot No. KA/SP/E-Pkg dated 04/06/2013 was sent for analysis to Central Food Laboratory Kolkatta. “On receipt of analysis report, the said food sample was found unsafe and misbranded, containing added colouring matter namely Carmoisine and Tartrazine”, he added.
Khan said that Carmoisine and Tartrazine besides being health hazard can damage kidneys and liver and are carcinogenic in nature. “These chemicals also lower the sperm count in men”, he added.
“The use of colouring matter in the manufacture of spices is not permitted under Food Safety and Standard Act 2006. The presence of the colouring agents in food items can cause serious health hazards on consumption”, said Khan.
Khan said that they are getting large scale complaints of food adulteration from Srinagar city. “We are taking 30-40 samples every month and after the report of the Kolkotta referral laboratory, we will send every third sample for retesting to cross the checks the reports of the local laboratories”, he added.
The SMC official said that some oil samples sent to Central Food Laboratory Kolkata have also been found substandard. “We are sending more spice items, oil and Milk for testing after large scale complaints of adulteration”, he added.
There are reports of Kashmiri red chilly manufactured by the M/S Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag containing the similar colouring agent as was found in Saunf powder. Khan said that Chilly will also be sent be for testing to Kolkata referral laboratory.
It may be mentioned here that early this year, laboratory testing of some medicines found them spurious and substandard. Seventeen persons including 3 officials of Health Department and several manufacturers were found accused involved in the scam.
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