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Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has taken the biggest and strictest action so far against adulterators and profiteers who are playing with the health of the general public in the upcoming festive season. Special investigation teams of the department, in joint raids with the state police, have exposed huge warehouses of bananas ripened artificially using dangerous banned chemicals and an illegal network of synthetic milk being prepared by mixing detergent and urea. During the swift raid, officials seized contaminated and adulterated goods worth a total of ₹1.29 crore. Five main accused directly involved in the case have been arrested red-handed and sent behind bars under relevant sections of the Health Protection Act and the Indian Code of Justice (BNS).
The Intelligence Wing of the FDA had received secret information that raw bananas were being made yellow and attractive overnight by using hazardous chemicals on a large scale in the suburban wholesale fruit markets of Kalyan, Thane and Mumbai. When the team of officers raided two huge cold storage and ripening chambers located in Navi Mumbai and Thane, the officers were stunned to see the scene there:
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Calcium Carbide and Ethylene Sachet: Sachets of banned carcinogenic chemical ‘Calcium Carbide’ and a huge consignment of unknown toxic liquid spray were recovered inside the warehouses.
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The intricacies of quick-ripening technology: Investigation revealed that raw bananas were dipped in a solution of this dangerous chemical, due to which they started appearing bright yellow from outside within just 12 to 18 hours.
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Banana seeds containing chemicals worth ₹78 lakh: Food safety officials immediately seized dozens of tonnes of such bananas kept in the warehouse, whose estimated market value is around ₹78 lakh. Random samples of the seized bananas have been sent to the State Central Food Testing Laboratory (CFTL) and the process of destroying the remaining stock has been initiated.
The second and most frightening part of the raid came to light in an illegal dairy unit operating in the border area of Palghar and rural Thane. To take advantage of the festive demand, this gang was preparing completely synthetic and poisonous milk in place of real cow-buffalo milk:
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Mixture of dangerous chemicals: Preliminary investigation conducted on the spot using a lab testing kit confirmed that milk-like thick whiteness and foam was being prepared by mixing substandard washing detergent powder, urea, starch and cheap refined palm oil with water in a high-speed blender.
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Supply network busted: This adulterated milk was being consumed every morning through tankers and vans at cheap prices at local confectioners, mawa bhattis and open tea shops.
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Synthetic milk and chemicals worth ₹51 lakh seized: In the raid, around 35,000 liters of finished adulterated milk, thousands of liters of adulterated oil, huge quantity of detergent boxes and packaging machinery were seized, the total value of which is around ₹51 lakh.
Five key operators of the gang, who were trying to escape from the spot, were surrounded by the police and caught. On the complaint of FDA officials, cases have been registered in the respective police stations under Section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSAI Act, 2006) (manufacture and sale of unsafe food) and various criminal sections of the Indian Justice Code (endangering public health, fraud and adulteration). The arrested accused were produced in the local court, from where they have been sent on police remand. The police are now looking for clues about the distribution network of this syndicate and the wholesale suppliers involved in it.
Medical experts and gastroenterologists have expressed grave concern over this revelation:
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Dangers of Calcium Carbide: Heavy metals like arsenic and phosphorus are found in calcium carbide. Eating fruits ripe with this chemical can cause severe burning sensation in the stomach, peptic ulcer, vomiting, dizziness, chest pain and in the long run, there is a risk of intestinal and stomach cancer.
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Effect of milk containing detergent and urea: Detergent and caustic soda directly burn the inner lining of the body’s intestines. Uncontrolled intake of urea can cause liver cirrhosis and acute kidney failure, which proves fatal especially for small children and the elderly.
To educate consumers, the FDA has shared easy home testing methods:
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Identification of Banana: Naturally ripe banana is light yellow-brown and its stem (stalk) turns black or brown. If the banana looks bright yellow on top but its stalk is dark green, then understand that it has been cooked with chemicals. The taste of such bananas also appears tasteless or raw from inside.
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Milk Assay (Detergent Test): Mix equal amount of water in 5 ml milk and shake it vigorously in the bottle. If the foam in milk persists for a long time and is thick like soap, then there is adulteration of detergent in it. Real milk foam settles within a few moments.
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Odor and color of synthetic milk: When synthetic milk is rubbed between the fingers, it feels smooth like soap and when heated, it turns light yellow.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner has clarified that zero-tolerance policy will remain in force in the entire state till Diwali and the upcoming Chhath Puja. For this, flying squads have been formed at the district level, which will continuously conduct surprise inspections on cold storages, fruit markets, milk chilling plants and mawa factories. Citizens have also been appealed that if they get information about any suspicious adulteration or use of chemicals in food items around them, they should immediately lodge a complaint on the FDA’s toll-free helpline number so that strict legal action can be taken in time.