Delhi Govt to amend Food Safety Act

The Delhi Government has decided to amend the Food Safety Act (2005) and further introduce life imprisonment as a punishment in extreme cases of adulteration.

This decision follows the multitude of cases of adulteration that have been exposed in India.

Earlier this month, official agencies in Maharashtra and Gujarat collected samples of Maggi noodles to test whether it contained more than the permissible amounts of lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG).

This was in response to findings by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Uttar Pradesh that the instant noodles contained lead and MSG which was beyond the permissible limit.

High levels of lead in food are known to be harmful.

In another incident, Officials of the FDA in Pune seized edible oil of a particular brand, suspecting adulteration. The traders blended cheap edible oil with sunflower and soybean oil and misled people to earn extra profit, said officials.