Food Adulteration

Food adulteration is the act of intentionally debasing the quality of food offered for sale either by the admixture or substitution of inferior substances or by the removal of some valuable ingredient. Food adulteration is a huge concern for all in all parts. around the globe. Food products are said to be adulterated if their quality is adversely affected by adding any substance which is injurious to health or by abstracting a nutritious substance. Food adulteration is happening for the last few decades in a large scale. Greed is one of the major reasons for food adulteration. Dishonest businessmen adulterate foods and food items for more profit. Nowadays, foods are often adulterated. In hotels and restaurants, stale and rotten foods are mixed with fresh food and served to the customers. Fish and vegetables are adulterated by putting on their chemicals and other preservatives in order to make them look fresh. Bakery and confectionery products are also prepared by using toxic substances, and thus they get adulterated. Even fruits, milk and beverages are adulterated. In fact, all kinds of foods and food items are adulterated by dishonest and greedy businessmen and shopkeepers for quick and unearned profit. Carbide, formalin, heavy metal, chemical, textile colours, artificial sweeteners, DDT, urea, etc are used for food adulteration. Contamination of foods with toxic chemicals poses a serious threat to public health. These chemicals adversely affect vital organs such as the liver and kidney resulting in organ failure or cancer and thus, untimely loss of life. But ironically people are buying the adulterated foods being well aware as they have no other way. The impact of food adulteration could be grave for the next generation. The people in power should take stern steps against the violators of food safety laws. The criminals should be identified and given exemplary punishment. The relevant department of government should remain ever vigilant against food the adulteration and gear up their activities.