A bread vendor in Ranchi on Thursday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Good Morning Ranchi, your ubiquitous breakfast spread is under scanner.

The branded white bread, which is currently available in the market, may not be safe for you. And you are in vain fighting the flab with that brown bread, which may just be a dyed version of its fairer cousin.

The state food safety and control department has recently discovered that there is no grain of truth in the bulge-battling brown loaf, which in all likelihood is either coloured or coated with caramelised sugar and not made of pure wheat bran. The white bread, on the other hand, may have just completed its shelf life.

Not shocked yet? Consider this: bread that remains unsold in urban markets are transported to rural areas to clear up stocks.

Food control officials conducted a two-day raid, beginning Tuesday night, at factories of four top bread manufacturers in capital — namely Moreish, Modern, Gold and Nasta — and found gross violation of safety norms at the latter three.

State food controller T.P. Burnwal said prima facie evidence suggested that the manufacturers didn’t adhere to packaging norms.

“Our scope of investigations was primarily restricted to the big four brands in the city. We discovered that three of them did not mention the date of manufacturing, without which it is difficult for buyers to know whether the bread is fresh or stale,” said Burnwal.

“Irrespective of the place they stay, everyone must check the date of manufacturing on packets,” he stressed.

According to Burnwal, wheat bread and wholemeal bread (brown bread) have a maximum shelf life of three days. The manic mercury this summer is taking further toll and the risk remains of bread going stale quicker.

He said the raids also revealed that the bread packets did not mention ingredients and nutrient values in percentage.

“Food safety norms make it mandatory for every packaged food manufacturer to categorically mention ingredient and nutrition details,” he said, adding that all three companies had been served showcause and asked to mend ways within 10 days.

“We could have straightaway sealed the factories, but I honestly feel it is no solution. It would have only led to a crisis for the common man. We will conduct surprise inspection after the deadline ends and if any of them is still found guilty, we will take strict action,” Burnwal said.

The food controller claimed that Modern had accepted its mistake and promised in writing that it would bring changes in its packaging system within a week.

“We have also asked them to submit their product analysis reports in 10 days after which we will again collect random samples and get them tested in authorised laboratories,” Burnwal said.

When contacted, a representative of Modern bread refrained from making comments. “If there is a problem, it will be rectified. We don’t want to say any further,” he said, unwilling to reveal his name.

No official from Nasta and Gold could be reached. Their phones either went ringing or were out of service.

Will you drop bread from your breakfast menu? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com