Addressing Food adulteration and Profit Chasing

Mahesh Zagade, Ex-Principal Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, Ex FDA Commissioner, Maharashtra

Indian festivals are a celebration of community, culture and life. They provide a brief reprieve from the difficulties of everyday life and serve as a reminder of our rich heritage. However, they also highlight the unrelenting quest for financial gain by some unscrupulous elements of society, at the expense of public health. We can no longer afford to overlook the scourge of food adulteration. It is time to give the food we eat daily, the same consideration and care we give to our celebratory foods so that the silent threat of adulteration does not tarnish the festive mood.

India, with its legacy of vibrant cultures, is a land where festivals weave through the very fabric of life. From the sombre chants of the Ganapati festival to the spirited processions of Dussehra, and the luminous joy of Diwali, festivals bring communities together, serving as a mirror of our diverse yet united ethos. These celebrations, however, are not solely characterised by rituals, songs, and colours. At the heart of every Indian festival lies an inescapable connection to food—whether it be the sweet indulgence of modaks during Ganapati, the elaborate mithais of Diwali, or the offerings made during Navratri. Each occasion is incomplete without the ceremonial preparation of dishes steeped in tradition, and along with them, the flavours of love and abundance. Yet, beneath the delicious aroma of these festive delights, there lies a sinister undercurrent. As the demand for sweets, ghee, oil, khoya, and other ingredients skyrockets, so does the temptation for unscrupulous traders to exploit the situation for illegal profit. The joy of our festivals is increasingly being threatened by a menace that silently infiltrates our food supply chain: adulteration.

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