A CSE investigation in December 2020 unravelled the ‘food fraud’.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) recently said that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has not taken necessary action regarding the issue of honey adulteration.
A CSE investigation in December 2020 unravelled the ‘food fraud’. The report revealed that 17 out of 22 honey samples (77%), which the CSE got tested in Indian and German laboratories, had failed the tests of purity and were found adulterated with sugar syrups. Only 3 out of 13 brands had passed all tests.
The brands that passed were Markfed Sohna, Saffola, and Nature’s Nectar (one sample). The brands that failed included Patanjali, Dabur, Zandu, Apis, Hitkary, Baidyanath, Dadev, Hi Honey, Indigenous, and Societe Naturelle.
The CSE investigation also pointed out the fact that laboratory tests conducted according to the FSSAI’s standards could not reveal adulteration in honey samples.
The CSE said that on December 17, 2020, it shared laboratory results of two additional samples with the FSSAI. These results reportedly showed that intentional adulteration of up to 50% with sugar syrups was not discoverable by the specific marker test for rice syrup (SMR).
The CSE investigation received reactions from across the nation, as well as the globe – ranging from consumers of honey to agencies like the National Human Rights Commission, the Central Consumer Protection Authority, etc. Most of these responses have called for strong action by the FSSAI.
Ashwin Bhadri, CEO of Equinox Labs, said, “India’s dependency on honey for day-to-day needs is no secret. Aside from adding nutritional value to our diets, it has many medicinal benefits as well. Therefore, we want our honey (more so than anything else) to be without any impurities.”
Bhadri continued, “In order to keep the nefarious business of honey adulteration in check, India needs more accountability in the honey sector.”