From spices to milk, almost every food item is adulterated these days. TOI examines the govt’s response to the problem, while pointing out ways to detect such food State health minister Mukesh Mahaling recently informed the state assembly that almost every food item, be it branded health drinks or milk, is adulterated today, while urging people to remain cautious about what they are consuming.Mahaling presented the data on analysis of food samples from 29 districts tested in the 2024-25 financial year till Jan 2025, which revealed adulteration of everyday staples like health drinks, salt, spices, biscuits, sauces, tea, flour and cooking oil.In Odisha, food adulteration is regulated under the central Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, which imposes penalties for violations, ranging from fines to life imprisonment depending on the severity of the case. “But given the rate at which food adulteration is rising points to the failure of both FSSAI and the state’s food safety authorities in checking the menace,” Congress MLA Sofia Firdous.Stating that the problem is far more widespread than previously assumed, Firdous said it raises concern not just over public health but also the existing food safety mechanism.Enforcements have shown that paneer and other milk products are among the most adulterated foods in Odisha, particularly in the organized markets. According to FSSAI reports, tests have consistently pointed to adulteration of milk products, including paneer, in Odisha.If only milk is taken into consideration, fisheries and animal resources development minister Gokulananda Mallik informed the assembly last month that lab tests conducted in 2025 on milk samples from 88 private companies revealed eight substandard samples. In the state, apart from Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation, there are 22 private companies in the milk business and 10 of them are based in Odisha.Spices and sauces rank second among the most commonly adulterated food items. Experts point out that consumer awareness on adulteration also remains low which is why adulterated products keep circulating in open markets. “Even today, only a handful of customers check the packaging details, expiry and manufacturing dates while many do not pay attention to these details despite the govt warning them on food adulteration,” Right to Food activist Sameet Panda said.Besides, the low rate of criminal prosecution of adulterators defeats the purpose. According to FSSAI reports available till the year 2021-22, 1,168 food samples were tested in Odisha that year, of which, 260 were found non-confirming but, only 63 civil cases against adulterators were filed and 52 of them were penalized. At the same time, 43 criminal cases were initiated but none were convicted.As compared to previous years, authorities have stepped up surveillance under the provisions of the FSSAI guidelines and the FSS Act. Mahaling said that 63 food safety officers are currently deployed across all districts. To strengthen the enforcement, the state govt is in the process of appointing 74 food safety officers through the Staff Selection Commission and they will be posted across urban local bodies.
