'High cost, low utility'; FSSAI's lame reason why it doesn't use test that exposed Honeygate
On CSE's concerns about the non-prescription of Trace Marker for Rice syrup (TMR) for detecting adulteration of in honey, FSSAI said that a more sensitive Specific Marker for Rice syrup test (SMR) has already been made mandatory to detect such adulteration
- Dec 3, 2020,
- Updated Dec 3, 2020 9:36 PM IST
A day after Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) alleged that honey sold by major brands in India adulterating honey with sugar syrup, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said that it will utilise the findings of the investigation to bring about any improvements in the food safety ecosystem pertaining to honey that are found necessary.
Taking note of the CSE's investigation on adulteration in honey, the food safety regulator said it appreciates the efforts of civil society organisations like CSE to promote awareness among customers about food safety and standards.
In a major expose on rampant adulteration of packaged honey sold in the Indian market, 10 of the 13 brands flunked the stringent Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) test considered as the global gold standard for honey as part of an investigation conducted by the CSE. Honey samples from leading brands such as Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkari and Apis Himalaya, all failed the NMR test. Only 3 out of the 13 brands - Saffola, MarkfedSohna and Nature's Nectar (one out of two samples) -- passed all the tests.
A day after Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) alleged that honey sold by major brands in India adulterating honey with sugar syrup, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said that it will utilise the findings of the investigation to bring about any improvements in the food safety ecosystem pertaining to honey that are found necessary.
Taking note of the CSE's investigation on adulteration in honey, the food safety regulator said it appreciates the efforts of civil society organisations like CSE to promote awareness among customers about food safety and standards.
In a major expose on rampant adulteration of packaged honey sold in the Indian market, 10 of the 13 brands flunked the stringent Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) test considered as the global gold standard for honey as part of an investigation conducted by the CSE. Honey samples from leading brands such as Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkari and Apis Himalaya, all failed the NMR test. Only 3 out of the 13 brands - Saffola, MarkfedSohna and Nature's Nectar (one out of two samples) -- passed all the tests.