FDA cracks whip on mawa sellers
Ahead of the festive season, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has started inspecting sweet shops to check the quality of mawa used to prepare sweets. Mawa, a milk based ingredient is widely used in preparing sweets.
In the last three days, the FDA has seized 638 kgs mawa worth `13 lakh from five different retail shops in the city. Of the five shops, three are located in Null Bazaar, Byculla and one each in Kurla and Dadar. “These shop owners were storing mawa in unhygienic conditions. Also there was no packaging and labelling on the mawa packets,” said S. Annapure, joint commissioner (Food), FDA.
FDA officials said that a large quantity of the mawa used by sweet shop owners in the city comes from other states, including Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. “During the festive season, people buy mawa and prepare sweets at home for large gatherings. In case the mawa is contaminated, there could be serious health hazards,” said an FDA official. “Our food inspectors have been conducting checks and raids and collecting samples. Ninety per cent of the samples analysed were adulterated. Spurious samples will be slightly discoloured or may have a different taste,” said Mr Annapure.
The FDA has been trying to create awareness against food adulteration among the masses. Mr Annapure said that food businessmen were being sensitised to hygienic preparations, storage and handling conditions.
“While the FDA will continue inspections and raids, it is important that the public is aware of the possibilities of adulteration. They should not buy cheap sweets from small shops. It is important to be cautious of strange food tastes and colours. In case of doubt, people should call our helpline immediately,” he said. The mawa confiscated by the FDA will be destroyed, informed the joint commissioner and samples from the seized stock will also be sent for lab tests to Pune.
From diesel to chalk powder and just about anything, can blend in mawa, which is an essential ingredient in sweets. A food inspector said, “The most common ingredient of spurious mawa is chalk powder. Suspending mawa in a glass of water makes the powder settle down.”
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