Members demand strong steps against food adulteration

New Delhi, Mar 18 (UNI) Against the backdrop of growing incidents of food adulteration, members of Lok Sabha today demanded that government take genuine and strong steps to curb the menace besides taking outstanding steps to bolster food security in the country.

During discussions on the Amendment Bill, which will replace the Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Ordinance 2008 promulgated by the President on February 7 this year, members highlighted how increasing cases of food adulteration had led to the compromising of people's health in several parts of the country and the spreading of various diseases.

Members also demanded details on government's action taken report towards defaulters of Food Safety and Standards Act, as had been violated by soft drink multinationals.

The Ordinance which will become an Act when passed, stipulates that besides full time members, the Food Authority would also have part time members. Besides, it also has a provision that members maximum age limit would be enhanced from the present 62 years to 65 years.

Presenting a Statutory Resolution against the Ordinance, Rasa Singh Rawat of the BJP called for increased food security in the country which of late had showed signs of deterioration.

Accusing that the government had given in to the pressure of multinationals and big business houses, he said, ''What happened to the special committee's report on the pesticide content in cola majors Coke and Pepsi?'' Asking the government to enumerate how many had been punished under this Act, Mr Rawat said the government's intention may be good in bringing about the amendment but he was stressing the facts now as the government had been sleeping on them for so long.

K S Rao of the Congress said regulation should not small traders and vendors.

''There is no doubt that the guilty should be punished but small traders should not be inconvenienced.'' MORE UNI AN VD GC1700