Ranchi: The state's mobile food laboratory, which tested 80 samples during March 12-16 and will do its second run from Thursday, has observed serious presence of substandard milk and milk products across capital markets.
State food analyst Chaturbhuj Meena said samples of both raw and cooked items were collected from Albert Ekka Chowk, Morabadi, Ratu Road, Doranda and Lalpur, and the test results were concerning.
"More than 90 per cent of paneer being sold in city markets are substandard in quality and have no nutritional value. Almost every random sample of paneer - from homes to local shops and small hotels - that we tested was found to have high starch content," Meena said.
On what safeguard consumers could take, the food analyst advised a quick test. "Tincture iodine is easily available in the market. Put a few drops on a sample of paneer before you purchase. If the paneer turns black or dark purple, it is adulterated or substandard."
Meena said they also tested Sudha milk samples brought by people and found the Bihar brand to be a bit substandard.
"Cow milk should have 8.37 per cent of HNF (a genetic protein measure), but we found 7.9 per cent in the samples. Having said so, milk of the same brand collected by us from an authentic source fared better, indicating adulteration in transit," he said, adding that they were yet to test Jharkhand's indigenous brand Medha.
If reports of the mobile lab are anything to go by, sweets are the most unsafe in the city.
"A carcinogenic dye called metanil yellow is being used in many sweets, especially in jalebis. We don't wish to create panic. We are raising awareness against consumption of coloured sweets from just about any shop," Meena said.
On Day One, the food lab had similarly found harmful dyes in a branded packet of chilli powder. "Brand Nandini was caught using harmful chemicals to accentuate the colour of its chilli powder. A legal test is being performed and we will soon give a report to the food inspector of Ranchi. The latter wields the power to formally initiate legal action against suppliers," Meena said.
The vehicle equipped with a food lab was gifted earlier this year by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to curb adulteration.
Meena said they had temporarily stopped lab operations after March 13 to fix printers and stock up on CDs on food safety habits. "We will be back on the road from tomorrow," he said, adding that the schedule of spots to be covered was being prepared.
