EDITORIAL
Awareness and tougher enforcement can help curb the misuse of milk analogues
The Goa government’s directive to food business operators in Goa to clearly disclose the use of milk analogues in paneer and traditional sweets is a welcome step towards public health. The government has issued a public health advisory covering the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of analogues of cheese, paneer, ‘khoa’, ‘mava’ and ‘kalakand’, and similar products sold under local or customary names. The move followed information received by the FDA about such items being used in restaurants, hotels, caterers and fast-food establishments.
Secretary (Health) and Food Safety Commissioner, Yetindra Maralkar, stated that describing or selling cheese analogues as paneer, including using the term in the names of paneer-based dishes on menus, may violate the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and related rules and regulations. The advisory stated that using khoa, mava and kalakand analogues in traditional milk-based sweets under names ordinarily understood to refer to milk-based products may also violate food safety laws and mislead consumers about their nature and composition. An analogue product is a chemically engineered lookalike where expensive milk fat and solids are partly or completely replaced with non-dairy ingredients.
The Food Safety Commissioner has directed business operators using milk analogues—including manufacturers, processors and food service establishments—to prominently state: ‘This product has been prepared using milk analogues as the primary ingredient.’ The government has warned that misrepresentation or misleading declarations about a food product’s nature, composition or identity may invite action under the Act and related regulations. Many states are proactive in acting against violators of food safety laws. There should be no compromise on the use of such analogue ingredients. Warnings should be followed by strict action. The FDA should also create awareness about this, and about the dangers of consuming analogue products. In the four and a half months since April, the FDA conducted 2,528 inspections and 280 raids across the state. During the period, the FDA collected 831 enforcement samples and 1,916 surveillance samples, and issued 274 improvement notices to food establishments. The enforcement action resulted in the destruction of 2,522 kg of stock, valued at Rs 6.36 lakh.
FDA director Shweta Dessai said that, with the festive season underway, the focus is more on sweets. With Maharashtra clamping down on analogue paneer manufacturers, there is a possibility of unscrupulous suppliers dumping such products in Goa. As a tourist state, such operators will clandestinely try to push these products here. For this, surveillance must be increased at our check-posts. The authorities must also educate the public on ways to differentiate between fake and real paneer and other products through some home-based tests.
Dessai said members of the public were increasingly approaching the department and requesting inspections of eateries and restaurants in their areas. This is a positive development towards public health. If people are coming forth and calling for inspections, it also shows the trust factor. Actually, that should be the normal course, as citizens cannot expect any department to address issues without a proactive public stand. People face many health issues. Eating out has increased steadily, partly due to the hectic nature of jobs. It is here that the FDA’s role comes into play—ensuring the public eats safe food. We have laws for it and the food business operator is expected to follow them in letter and spirit, but it is seldom the case. Hence, strong enforcement should be appreciated. Goa already has an increased rate of cholesterol and non-alcoholic fatty liver cases. Keeping this in mind, the authorities must clamp down on errant food business operators.
