User:Prapti negi/sandbox

=FOOD ADULTERATION=

=ADULTERATION=

Adulteration is defined as the process by which the quality or the nature of the given substance is altered. Adulteration of food may endanger health if the physiological functions of the consumer are affected due to either addition of a deleterious substance or the removal of a vital component. Adulteration means not only intentional addition of substances which adversely affect the nature of substances and quality of foods, but also their incidental contamination during growth, harvesting, storage, processing, transportation and distribution.

=Types of Adulterants=

Intentional Adulterants
Intentional adulterants are sand, marble chips, stones, mud, chalk powder, water, mineral oil and coaltar dyes. These adulterants cause harmful effects in the body.

Incidental adulterants
Incidental adulterants are pesticide residues, tin from can, droppings of indents and larvae in food & metallic contamination with arsenic, lead, mercury, etc. can also occur incidentally. The following table shows the toxic effects of some metals and chemicals.

=PREVENTION=


 * Regular market surveys to warn people of dangerous build up of toxins in foods.
 * Using safer pesticides like synthetic pyrethroids or malathion.
 * By washing vegetables thoroughly before cooking
 * By teaching farmers to use pesticides judiciously

=FOOD LAWS and STANDARDS=

Effective means of food quality can be achieved by legislative measures, certification schemes and public participation and involvement in the programme. The following acts has been passed by the government of India to prevent food adulteration and to maintain food quality.

PREVENTION OF FOOD ADULTERATION
This act was passed in the year 1954. The act prohibits the manufacture, sale and distribution of not only adulterated foods but also foods contaminated with micro-organisms and toxicants and misbranded foods. Prevention of food adulteration specifies microbial standards for pasteurized milk, milk powder, skimmed milk powder, infant milk food and malted milk food. According to PFA, an article of food shall be deemed to be adulterated,


 * If the article is not upto the standard prescribed.
 * If the article contains any other substances which affects the nature or quality of the substance.
 * If any inferior or cheaper substance has been substituted wholly or partly.
 * If any constituent of the article has been wholly or partly abstracted.
 * If the article has been prepared, packed or kept under unsanitary conditions whereby it has become contaminated or injurious to health.
 * If the article consists of decomposed or diseased animal or vegetable substance or insect - infested or otherwise unfit for human consumption.
 * If the article contains any poisonous or other ingredient which renders its contents injurious to health.
 * If any colouring matter other than that prescribed and in amounts not within the prescribed limits of variability is present in the article.
 * If the article contains any prohibited preservative or permitted preservative in excess of the prescribed limits.
 * If the quality or purity of the article falls below the prescribed standard or its constituents are present in quantities which are in excess of prescribed limits of variability.

ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT 1954
The main objectives of this act is to maintain supply of essential commodities to the public by proper regulation, prevention of black market and making it available to the public at reasonable price. A number of control orders have been formulated under this act

Fruit Products Order, 1955
This lays down statutory minimum standards in respect of the quality of various fruits and vegetable products and processing facilities. Packaging fruits and vegetables of a standard below the minimum prescribed standards is an offense punishable by law. This order is operated by the food and nutrition board of the Ministry of food processing industries.

Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992
The milk and milk products order is to set sanitation and hygiene standards for dairy plants and establish an advisory board to advise the government on production, sale, purchase and distribution of milk and milk products.

Meat Products Order, 1973
This makes it illegal to transport meat unless it has been prepared and processed according to the provisions of the inspection. The order also lays down rules and conditions for procedure to be adopted for the    selection of disease free animals, slaughter house practices for further treatment of the meat so as to maintain the meat in a wholesome manner devoid of pathogens.