Food Adulteration

Adulteration of food cheats the consumers and poses serious risks to health. Adulterants are intentional and unintentional or accidental. In both the cases consumers remain unaware and consume foods without through check. A common consumer may not have sufficient knowledge about purity and quality of food articles he consumes. In India as well as other developing and backward countries, normally, the contamination or adulteration in food is done either for financial gain or due to carelessness and lack in proper hygienic condition of processing, storing, transportation and marketing. However, adequate precautions and knowledge of consumer at the time of purchase of such products can make him alert to avoid procurement of such food. It is equally important for the consumer to know the common adulterants and their effect on health. Keeping in view it, Government of India has introduced the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Bill in the and came in existence in 1955. In 2006 the food safety and standards authority of India has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 that consolidates various acts. CPA (1986) is to protect interests of consumers in India.