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Kathmandu Thursday October 26, 2000 Kartik 10, 2057.
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Eliminate adulteration
Although food adulteration has become
rampant, Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) have literally done
nothing to combat the problem. Hence, the claim made by officials that food adulteration
is on the wane is hard to consider as having credibility. Consumers, more practically
housewives, who are directly involved in cooking daily meals have been frequently
encountering cases of food adulteration everyday. The adulteration virtually extends to
all essential ingredients. From turmeric powder to oil, almost all food items bear the
mark of adulteration. Interestingly, consumers, food inspectors and merchants are not
oblivious to the incidents of food adulteration. Still, there have hardly been any move to
take action against the unscrupulous traders.
Time and again, public protests have
surfaced. Sadly, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. In a country like ours where the
majority of people are deprived of even the basic health facilities, impure or
contaminated food can invite serious health hazards. Undoubtedly, this situation can be
attributed to gross negligence and the frivolous approach of responsible quarters. Just
reprimanding those unscrupulous businessmen will not discourage this trade.
While the health of the public is at stake,
it is business as usual for the unethical merchants. Surprisingly, no effective measures
have been implemented to curb such illegal practice. However, the blame cannot be placed
entirely on the government. Consumer consciousness is very much lacking.There are a
handful of consumers' forums, and they do make noise once in a while. But just issuing
statements will not solve the grave problem. Unless they are active and sincere about
fighting for the rights of consumers, nothing will going to happen. The consumers should
also stand up for their rights and force the government to crack down on traders who
adulterate.
Take last year's oil racket for instance. A
lot of hue and cry was raised to protest the contaminated cooking oil, the chief cause of
the Dropsy epidemic which hits some areas of the Terai. But surprisingly, the protests
faded away rather abruptly. There was no persistent and sincere follow-up action. Ever
year, incidents of food adulteration emerge, but they are not addressed. Had the
government and public taken stringent measures in favour of consumers last year, the
problem of food adulteration would have declined considerably.
Better late than never. Food adulteration
is a serious problem and therefore, calls for
concerted efforts. Mere endorsement of rules and regulations, no matter how good they may
appear, are meaningless, if they are not enforced appropriately. Random selection and food
testing may not be reliable.
Hence, food tests must be conducted
regularly and these tests must be extended to areas beyond Kathmandu Valley. For, although
many incidents of food adulteration in rural areas go unreported, the gravity of the
situation cannot be undermined. There is an imperative need for well- equipped food
laboratories and experts across the country, and the government would do well
to take steps to establish these. |
