Fake tea is in the news, but how much of it is true?
- Recently there were videos of fake rice, sugar and eggs in the market
- Government has told the people that no plastic content is found in these foods
- But private organisations found plastic content when samples were sent to the lab
- Now, with fake tea in the news will the government take measures to clear the air?
FollowIt all started with fake eggs. From videos to photographs of making fake eggs created such frenzy that people all over the country started checking the eggs and made videos of fake eggs in use in Karnataka too. People of the state almost went into paranoia with plastic sugar and rice too stepping in. Now there is one more addition to the list-fake tea.
Recently, many videos where the cooked rice balls were bouncing and people declared that shops were selling fake rice. People started criticising the government as the alleged fake rice was found in fair price shops run by the government too.
However, the government took the matter seriously, and collected samples of the alleged rice from various places and sent it to labs for testing. However, the reports were negative. The government declared that it is not plastic rice.
But contradictory to it, some of the private organisations too sent the sample for testing in labs which said there was the presence of a plastic element in the rice. When the state was in the confused state about reports on fake rice, eggs and sugar, here is another news from Gadag and Kalaburagi that the fake tea is making the rounds.
A racket which was found be collecting the used tea powder from hotels was packing the same tea powder after mixing colour to make it look fresh. The colour used to make it look fresh is dangerous. The fake tea was found at Kalaburagi. And the Matter came to light when Food Safety and Standard Inspectors conducted surprise raids at various hotels there.
The primary investigation into the matter led these inspectors to Wajid Sheikh who was behind the racket selling fake tea. This tea powder was being manufactured in Maharashtra. At the time of arrest, the team has seized tea powder worth Rs 37,000.
A case in this regard has been filed in the Kalaburagi University Police Station and investigation is on.
With everyone actively using the social media, such issues, most of the times rumours spread across the state and even country within a short span. This kind of news creating panic among people is shared with greater speed, and people are interested in reading part is creating panic and do not bother to go into the details of it.
90 percent of those who have shared such posts and news have surely not tried the simple ways which can detect of the rice, sugar or egg is fake. Now fake tea added to this list; it is better to verify the news before panicking and spreading panic.
Even the authorities do not look interested in clearing the air. For example, a case was filed against Lobosa brand of tea powder in Gadag. In 2015 The samples were sent to Kolkata's NABL lab for testing. It was found that colour was being added to the tea powder. The case is still pending in the court. The Lobosa owners had stated that they were following the rules and were mixing just 2 grammes of colour for 1 kg tea powder. They argued that it would not create any health hazards.
The matter which concerns the health of the public is still in the court after two years of filing the case. Even with other plastic food items which created a ruckus in the social media are still making the rounds. Because there is no powerful message sent to the people or the faulty manufacturers clearing the issue to the public.
Either the government should take action against those guilty or tell it with proof that there is no fake food. But the routine press release stating that the government has termed the rice and other ingredients safe for consumption and found no plastic content is not going to solve the problem.
There should be a stronger message sent out with proof for the people to believe. Else, soon there will be all food items mentioned under fake food. If there is fake food making the rounds, it must be stopped immediately, and the government cannot play with the health and life of people just being lackadaisical about the issue.
Will we see any action in this regard anytime soon?
