Hazardous chemicals in food items: Menace thrives due to weak monitoring

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The use of hazardous chemicals in food items continues to plague consumers in the state. The authority concerned cracks down on grocers once in a blue moon and leaves the issue almost unattended. Thus the situation is back to square one.

The State Public Health Laboratory detected hazardous chemicals like deltamethrin, chlorpyrifos, ethylene etc., in pulses, powdered spice, edible oil, milk, etc., recently

According to doctors, the long-term use of such food items leads to various types of cancer, weakness, body pain, Alzheimer's disease etc. Such food items may even affect the embryo in wombs.

The practice of ripening bananas and other fruits using calcium carbide is common. The district authorities rarely seize such fruits. Grocers restart using calcium carbide as the district authorities do not keep up such inspections regularly.

Two to three years back, the authorities did a crackdown on fish traders as imported fish had the presence of formalin. The import of such fish did stop in the state for few a days. However, the situation is back to square one now.

According to sources, traders use some powders in milk to prevent curdling. Some milkmen even inject some chemicals in milch cattle for more yield.

The use of pesticides by vegetable growers is a common practice now. Even though the government stresses organic vegetable cultivation, there are few takers as organic cultivation is costly, besides low yield.

According to official sources, the government should have a well-planned mechanism to fight the menace. Coordinated efforts amongst Food and Civil Supplies, Agriculture, Health etc., departments under the district authorities can check the menace.

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