Wondering why the same product was given contrarian verdicts by food testing labs? A recent sting operation by India Today can throw some light on the issue.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had banned Maggi noodles saying it was "unsafe and hazardous" for consumption after finding lead levels beyond permissible limits, following which the company had withdrawn it from the market. Nestle India had then challenged the ban by FSSAI in the Bombay High Court.
But Maggi noodles were cleared by three laboratories mandated by the Bombay High Court to test the product samples All the 90 samples, covering 6 variants, tested by these laboratories are clear with lead much below the permissible limits.
Wondering why the same product was given contrarian verdicts by food testing labs? A recent sting operation by India Today can throw some light on the issue.
The reports from the channels posing as entrepreneurs selling a namkeen (savouries) product called 'Sharmaji Ki Bhujia' spoke to FSSAI officials from Uttar Pradesh. They told him that the product has excessive lead. In the first meeting itself, he agreed to help them in the matter. They spoke to a few officials among whom were Ramesh Chand from Pilkhuwa, Shiv Das Singh from Bulandshahr.
Here is how the officials said the product can be passed:
How much is the payoff: For a fixed amount of Rs 20,000 per year, Chand and Das promised to clear the product and take care of other officials as well. Both officials claimed that the amount is the nominal sum for any FSSAI official to pass
How the officials claimed to get dubious food samples approved: Chand and Das also said that it was possible to clear the namkeen without any tests.
As per KT Singh, another official from Mukhteshwar, it was possible to pass off a bogus product as a safe one by ensuring that the officials overseeing the product testing are taken care of. Chand and Das had agreed to take the reporters (entrepreneurs) to Bulandshar to meet other officials who would help them pass the product.
Other shocking revelations:
-As per Chand, clearing bogus samples for money was an established practice at FSSAI.
-Chand also claimed that the officials were under pressure from 'power centre' to declare big brands as unsafe. Saying that food samples lie with the government, he said that it was likely that someone had asked for 'donation' from Maggi and the company must have had denied.
-Another food inspector claimed that he could not only fail a product on spurious grounds but also bring in huge media coverage.
-As per Chand, milk samples from the country's top companies were dismissed by getting them tampered. He said the product was safe but companies did not agree to pay up which resulted in the adulteration of the samples. "We tampered with the seal and added adulterants to it and then send it to the testing laboratory," said Chand.
The report quotes Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan reacting to the sting operation. "Standard products are being labelled as sub-standard and faulty products are being passed by such corrupt officials. This is a big crime and I demand strongest possible action against all those found guilty," Paswan said. "As a consumer minister I assure you that my department will take up the case seriously. FSSAI doesn't come under my ministry but I want to make it clear that strong action will be taken against such officials. They should be sent to jail," he added.
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