food adulteration

 Food Adulteration: The Silent Killer

Food is the basic necessity of life, and we all want to consume healthy and nutritious food. However, in today's world, it has become increasingly difficult to ensure that the food we eat is pure and unadulterated. Food adulteration refers to the addition or removal of substances from food items with the intention of increasing its quantity or improving its appearance.

Reasons:

1.Practised as a part of the business strategy.

2.An imitation of some other food substance.

3.Lack of knowledge of proper food consumption.

4.To increase the quantity of food production and sales.

5.Increased food demand for a rapidly growing population.

6.To make maximum profit from food items by fewer investments.

Methods:

1. Adding certain chemicals for faster ripening of fruit
2. Mixing of decomposed fruits and vegetables with the good ones.
3. Adding certain natural and chemical dyes to attract consumers.
4. Mixing of clay, pebbles, stones, sand, and marble chips, to the grains, pulses and other crops.
5. Cheaper and inferior substances are added wholly or partially with the good ones to increase the weight or nature of the product.

Effects on body:

Consuming adulterated foods can lead to various health problems such as stomach infections, diarrhea, vomiting, liver damage, kidney failure and even cancer. In some cases where toxic chemicals are used for preservation purposes or added intentionally for enhancing taste or color can cause immediate death.

Children are particularly vulnerable as their immune systems are still developing; hence they may suffer more severe consequences than adults when exposed to contaminated foods.

Awareness of food adulteration:

It is essential that we take steps towards ensuring that our food is safe for consumption by being aware of what we eat and where it comes from. We should always buy fresh produce from trusted sources like farmers' markets or organic stores instead of relying on packaged goods sold at supermarkets.

We must also educate ourselves about different types of adulterants used in foods so that we can identify them easily while buying groceries. For example- if you notice any white powder-like substance on your vegetables or fruits then avoid buying them because it could be calcium carbide which is harmful if consumed regularly over time.

In India :

India is a country known for its diverse cuisine and rich food culture. However, the increasing cases of food adulteration have become a major concern for the health and well-being of its citizens. Food adulteration refers to the addition or removal of substances from food items with the intention of increasing its quantity or improving its appearance.

The government has taken several measures over time to curb this issue by implementing strict laws and regulations against those involved in such practices. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare which regulates all aspects related to food safety including standards for additives used in foods.

In conclusion:

Food Adulteration poses a significant risk not only for our health but also for society as a whole since it undermines trust between consumers and producers leading ultimately towards economic losses. Therefore, it is our responsibility to be vigilant and take necessary precautions while buying food items to ensure that we consume only pure and healthy food.