Food adulteration and its consequences on health

— Ritwika Patgiri
Of late, a number of cases of 'fake paneer' products came to light highlighting a worrying trend of increasing food adulteration in everyday staples and posing severe health risks. For instance, in early April, reports from Noida found that 47 paneer and khoya products out of 168 food items tested by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) were contaminated.
Fake paneer, also called 'analogue paneer' or 'synthetic paneer', mimics the texture and appearance of real paneer but is made from non-dairy ingredients and costs nearly half of the real paneer. However, this is not the only case of food adulteration in India.
According to data recently shared by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, 22 per cent of food samples tested in Tamil Nadu between 2021 and September 2024 were found to be adulterated. The data collected by food safety authorities across five southern states – Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka – also revealed that 15 per cent of the food tested in Telangana and 13 per cent in Kerala were contaminated.
Overall, one in every seven food samples tested in the five states failed to meet food safety standards over the last four years, indicating the systemic nature of food adulteration in the country.
Food adulteration is a process by which substances are either intentionally added to food items or food gets contaminated due to negligence or poor handling practices. Adulterants could be harmful chemicals or harmless fillers, which can be added at any stage of the production process. For instance, the dilution of milk by farmers or the mixing of edible oil with mineral oil are examples of food adulteration.
The issue of food adulteration affected both organised and unorganised sectors. If the adulteration of milk-based sweets by small sweet shops during Diwali is a common local concern, big corporations have also been found involved in food adulteration.
Evidence worldwide suggests that 57 per cent of individuals have had health issues as a result of consuming adulterated food. Food adulteration can cause a range of health issues, including digestive disorders, allergic reactions, nutritional deficiencies, weakened immune system, and chronic diseases like cancer and liver damage.
While some instances of food adulteration, like mixing water with milk, may seem harmless, the larger public health impact tells otherwise. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted between 2019 and 2021, 32.1 per cent of Indian children are underweight, 35.5 per cent are stunted (low height for age), and 19.3 per cent are wasted (low weight for height). Around 41 million children in India have stunted growth.
The survey also notes that milk and curd along with pulses and beans are more likely to be consumed daily by a majority of Indians compared to eggs, fish, or meat. Therefore, the dilution of milk has serious health implications, specifically in terms of key nutritional indicators, which remain poor despite the consumption of milk.
Similarly, the dilution of pure honey with sugar syrup is more than just an instance of lowering the quality of food. According to The Lancet data, India has the highest number of people with diabetes estimated at 212 million. Unhealthy food and sedentary lifestyles are the major reasons behind this. Therefore, even seemingly minor adulterations such as adding sugar to honey can have long-term health consequences.
The prevalence of food contamination raises an important question about food safety mechanisms in India. The FSSAI is responsible for regulating and overseeing food safety. Established by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the FSSAI conducts periodic pan-India surveillance of food products, especially staple food and commodities that are prone to adulteration.
The theme of this year's World Food Safety Day, celebrated on June 7, was 'science in action', drawing attention to the use of scientific knowledge in reducing illness, cutting costs, and saving lives. The theme also underlines the responsibility of regulatory bodies like the FSSAI in combating food adulteration through scientific approaches.
The use of genetically modified (GM) ingredients in food items in India can be mentioned here as a case in point. Despite scientific concerns, GM cottonseed oil – derived from Bt cotton, the only GM crop allowed for cultivation in India – is blended with other edible oils. However, this practice raises concerns due to the possible toxicity present in such oils.
To address this, the FSSAI has mandated that any food item containing 5 per cent of GM ingredients should be labelled accordingly. However, quantifying the percentage of GM ingredients in food is challenging and expensive, making the labeling system dependent on self-declaration by manufacturers. This makes FSSAI's role even more crucial in ensuring transparency and protecting consumers' right to know what they are consuming.
The case of organic food presents similar challenges. The FSSAI mandates that certified organic food must be free from any residues of insecticides and should be labelled accordingly. However, there's no clear labelling for uncertified or substandard organic products. According to the Organic India Market Report of 2022, organic food in India has witnessed a yearly growth of 25 per cent, driven by growing awareness and purchasing power.
Moreover, studies indicate that as consumers become aware about the health benefits of organic food, they are more likely to pay premium prices for such products. However, the consumption of organic food in India remains limited to urban, upper-classes because of such 'premium' prices as 'pure' organic food is mostly expensive.
However, the lack of clear labeling of such products raises critical questions – who actually has access to 'good' organic food and who is more likely to be deceived by 'bad' organic food?
In this context, FSSAI's role becomes critical. It may be argued that the first step in any policy response to food could address the question of who is committing adulteration and how it occurs. If unorganised sellers (like the local milk vendor or sweet shop) are diluting food items, the solution could focus on education, incentivization, and raising awareness.
Profit maximisation has been found as one of the primary motivations behind food adulteration across organised and unorganised sectors. For instance, according to the health ministry records, three of every five companies have been found guilty of misbranding or selling adulterated food, yet many manage to escape without penalties. The low conviction rate has been seen as a major reason behind the persistence of such mal-practices. The lack of food analysts and testing laboratories are some other systemic issues behind the low conviction rate.
Hence, stringent laws with a differentiated approach for the organised and unorganised sectors could play an important role in addressing food adulteration. Eventually, food safety is a matter of both health and awareness. In addition, given that the perceptions of food hygiene are also linked with caste and class, addressing the issue of food adulteration requires a nuanced approach rooted in differentiated understanding and public awareness.
Why is food adulteration considered a major public health concern in India? What are some of the long-term health effects of consuming adulterated food?
What role does the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) play in ensuring food safety? Why is it important to have different regulatory approaches for the organised and unorganised food sectors?
How does the lack of clear labelling for organic and genetically modified (GM) foods impact consumer choices in India? Why is the self-declaration system for GM food labelling problematic?
How does food adulteration affect the nutritional status of children in India, as seen in NFHS-5 data?
What steps can be taken to improve food testing infrastructure and enforcement in India?
(Ritwika Patgiri is a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Economics, South Asian University.)
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But it changed two lives. 🎖️ And then, recognitions followed. 📍 Featured in Times of India (2020) for redefining autism therapy at scale 🏆 Praxis Media Award (2021) for women-led innovation ✨ YourStory Spotlight (2023) for building a movement, not a marketplace 💼 Entrepreneur Insights (2023) for creating India's most inclusive, women-powered therapy ecosystem 🏅 Indo Global Excellence Award (2024) — conferred by the Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana, recognizing Pinnacle as India-Pacific's #1 Autism Therapy Network But none of these awards outweigh: The child's whisper of their first word The mother's look of recognition The therapist's quiet nod when a new milestone is reached Pinnacle's proof is not in publications. It is in presence. In rural homes. In high-rise apartments. In dusty folders now marked with progress. In families that now believe help isn't just possible — it's nearby. Real lives changed. Real voices unlocked. Real progress mapped. That is the proof. That is Pinnacle. Book Free AbilityScore Assessment, a Speech Therapy Screening, Occupational Therapy, Explore Special Education Support, or Start Behavior Therapy Today, Call Free National Autism Helpline 9100 181181 Figure VI - From Khammam to Geneva, a mother-powered model built in India is now inspiring ministries, universities, and health systems across the world India's Recognition, the World's Realization At first, it was the parents who noticed. Then the therapists. Then the first district official who leaned over a therapy progress report and whispered, 'We've never seen a model like this. We need this everywhere.' And then — something shifted. From the modest therapy corridors of Khammam to the Sunday headlines of national media, India began to realize that something world-changing was growing in its own backyard. It wasn't just that Pinnacle was working. It was how it was working — with science and soul, with structure and softness, with mothers at the helm and children at the heart. 🇮🇳 National Honors and Media Validation 📰 Times of India National Spotlight (2020) In a full-page feature titled 'Spreading Smiles Like a Dash of Sunshine', Pinnacle was honored as South India's Best Autism Therapy Network. But the real headline wasn't the award — it was the editorial remark that followed: 'This isn't a center. This is a movement — led by science, soul, and systems.' 🏆 Praxis Media Women Leadership Award (2021) Awarded to Dr. Sreeja Reddy Saripalli, not for a campaign, but for a revolution: A national therapy model built by mothers, run by women, and scaled by systems. ✨ YourStory Entrepreneur Spotlight (2023) Pinnacle was not profiled as a startup. It was profiled as a public health framework — AI-enabled, mother-powered, scalable without sacrificing humanity. 🌟 Entrepreneur Insights – Best Place to Work (2023) Recognized for: 72% women-led workforce Continuous therapist upskilling India's first trauma-informed, dignity-first work culture in therapy 🥇 Indo Global Excellence Award (2024) Conferred by the Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana, this honor named Pinnacle the #1 Autism Therapy Network across India-Pacific — for its patented innovations, public-private hybrid architecture, and impact at scale. These weren't PR gimmicks. These were institutional recognitions that validated something never seen before in global child development: That India, not the West, had built the world's first complete autism care infrastructure. That a mother, not a venture fund, had led it. 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But it made the world pause — and realize what India had done. Not built a therapy company. Not launched a campaign. But drafted a new playbook for the planet: Measurable care AI-enhanced therapy Inclusive design Dignity-first delivery Scaled without dilution India awarded it. The world noticed it. And now, the world is ready to learn from it — or risk staying behind. Figure VII - This is what it looks like when therapy is built around the child — not around institutions. India's AI-powered, empathy-first model is setting a new global precedent ✅ Why This Model Works If autism therapy were only about diagnosis, then software could solve it. If it were only about compassion, then goodwill would be enough. But therapy — real therapy — is not just diagnosis or compassion. It is precision with empathy. Structure with soul. Intelligence that listens. And that is why Pinnacle works — because it wasn't built from policy whitepapers or VC slides. It was built from India's reality. And it was designed to last. 🇮🇳 Language Diversity as a Design Principle India doesn't speak one language. Neither should its therapy. Pinnacle functions in 16+ regional tongues, with therapy protocols tailored to: The child's spoken language The caregiver's literacy The community's cultural rhythm From Hyderabad to Hosur, Miryalaguda to Mumbai, Chennai to Karimnagar, children are not asked to 'adjust' — the therapy system adjusts to them. Because a word in English isn't the same as a glance in Telugu. And therapy doesn't work if the child doesn't feel understood. 📍 Geographic Penetration Without Fragility Most models collapse outside metros. Pinnacle grows stronger in India's second and third-tier cities. Why? Because it is: Locally staffed Modular by design Resilient via cloud + edge AI Delivering goals via WhatsApp + SMS, not just apps This isn't a Western model adapted to India. 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Practiced. 📊 Why It Doesn't Break at Scale Therapy systems fail for three reasons: Lack of protocol Staff burnout Parent disengagement Pinnacle preempted all three: Protocol : via standardized, patented, cross-checkable innovations People : via 72% women-led teams, upskilled, celebrated, retained Parents: via Everyday Therapy™, mobile access, language-aligned reports This is not a fragile pilot. This is a resilient, regenerative ecosystem — with built-in feedback loops across every level. 🌏 Globally Adaptable. Fiercely Local. Universally Needed. Could it work in: Kenya ? Absolutely. Philippines? Easily. UK boroughs with South Asian diaspora? Already being explored. Conflict zones where children are forgotten before they're found? Especially there. Because this system doesn't depend on bandwidth or budget. It depends on belief, blueprint, and belonging. Why does this model work? Because it is not a compromise. It is not a copy. It is a conviction. Designed in India. Led by mothers. 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They're becoming templates for transformation. 🌎 What the World Can Learn That innovation is not geography. It's empathy. That scale is not funding. It's community. That progress isn't a pipeline. It's a partnership. And that the next global standard for child development may not come from Geneva or Washington — But from India. From a woman. From a village. From a mother who refused to wait. Figure IX - From one therapy room in Hyderabad to 70+ cities across India — with 19 million+ sessions and counting — Pinnacle's journey is just beginning. What started as a mother's need has become the world's new autism framework What Comes Next? It started with one center. Now there are 70. Across 70 cities. Staffed by 1,600+ trained professionals. Backed by 19 million+ therapy sessions. And still — it's only just beginning. Because Pinnacle's vision doesn't stop at India's borders. It stretches across time zones and zip codes — to every village, every megacity, every continent where: A child still waits in silence A parent still fears asking the wrong question A school still isn't ready And a government still doesn't know where to start 🛤️ The Road Ahead Isn't a Line. It's a Living Grid. Pinnacle isn't expanding. It's inviting. Not to a franchise. To a framework. Not to a transaction. To a transformation. An open-source, multilingual, mother-driven, AI-powered ecosystem — offered to the world. To Ministries of Health. To Heads of State. To UNICEF and WHO. To diaspora educators. To mother networks in Nairobi and Manila. To health secretariats in São Paulo and Abu Dhabi. Come co-build with us. 🌍 What's Already Underway 🇦🇪 UAE: Exploring AbilityScore® for public developmental clinics in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah 🇬🇧 UK: Autism inclusion councils reviewing TherapeuticAI® for boroughs with high South Asian density 🇺🇸 USA: Medicaid-aligned pediatric orgs assessing SEVA™ deployment in low-income ZIP codes 🌍 Africa (Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda): Community therapists training in Everyday Therapy™ 🇲🇻 Maldives: Island-wide school health boards evaluating AI-based early screening via AbilityScore® This isn't hypothetical. It's already happening. 🔭 The Vision: 90 Crore Children. One Shared System. Every child — regardless of race, religion, or region — deserves more than a diagnosis. They deserve a map. Not a label. Not a waitlist. Not a brochure. But a data-backed, empathy-aligned, parent-empowering roadmap that tells them: 🧠 What their brain needs 💬 What their emotions mean 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What their family can do 📈 What progress looks like This is the vision: 🟢 A global child development dashboard powered by AbilityScore® 🟢 AI-enabled therapy co-pilots that speak your language 🟢 A SEVA™ equity model transcending borders — from Kerala to Kampala 🟢 Community therapists trained by mothers and machines — side by side 🟢 And a world where autism is no longer something families whisper about — but something they understand, track, support, and celebrate 🕊️ But Pinnacle Can't Do This Alone Pinnacle doesn't seek to dominate. It seeks to dismantle barriers. It seeks alignment. Integration. Shared sovereignty in child care innovation. So here is the open call — not a press release, but a pledge of partnership: To Ministries of Health: Let's co-create your country's developmental index To AI Labs: Let's train your models in your dialects To Foundations: Let's fund SEVA™ where your impact is needed most To Education Systems: Let's embed Everyday Therapy™ into curricula To Parent Networks and Therapists: Let's build the world's first open-source, mother-powered therapy intelligence platform 🧭 This Is Not A Rollout. This Is A Realignment of What's Possible. India has already built what no other country has: A therapy ecosystem backed by data Powered by AI Guided by mothers And open to the world The next chapter begins not with what Pinnacle can do next — but with who has the courage to stand beside it. Figure X - It took the world 144 years to understand autism. It took Indian mothers to give it a voice, a score, and a future. This is not a story. This is a new global standard 'The world waited 144 years to understand autism — and it was India, through the hands of its mothers, that finally gave it a voice.' This is not a story. This is a standard. This is not a press release. This is a precedent. This is not a tribute to Pinnacle. It is a tribute to what becomes possible when a country: Builds from its roots Leads with its women And listens to its children Pinnacle isn't just India's answer. It is the world's new question: 'If this was possible there — why not everywhere?' This life empowering innovation editorial is co-created by the Integrated Global Experts Consortium behind Pinnacle's patented AbilityScore® and TherapeuticAI® systems. Figure XI - This is not a press release. It is a precedent. Pinnacle didn't just build a therapy model — it defined a new global standard, forged from India's roots, led by its women, and powered by the voice of every child the world forgot to is the world's most complete, patented, scalable, and inclusive autism therapy system — combining science, AI, mother-led care, and universal access like no other model in history 🧬 Please do add below Structured Data (to TOI backend via JSON-LD) { '@context': ' '@type': 'NewsArticle', 'headline': 'The Mother, The Map, and the Movement - How India Quietly Built the World's Most Complete Pediatric Autism Therapy System', 'author': { '@type': 'Organization', 'name': 'Pinnacle Blooms Network - #1 Speech, ABA, Occupational, Special Education, Integrated Autism Therapy Centers Network.' }, 'publisher': { '@type': 'Organization', 'name': 'Times of India', 'logo': { '@type': 'ImageObject', 'url': ' } }, 'url': ' 'mainEntityOfPage': ' 'image': ' 'datePublished': '2025-05-20', 'articleSection': 'Health, Innovation, Autism, India, Women', 'keywords': [ 'AbilityScore', 'India FREE Autism Helpline 9100181181' 'Autism in India', 'Speech Therapy', 'ABA Therapy', 'Occupational Therapy', 'Speech Delay Therapy', 'TherapeuticAI', 'Mother-Led Innovation', 'India's Autism Model', 'Global Autism Framework'

India Gazette

38 minutes ago

• India Gazette

"PM Modi has addressed health with a holistic view": Amit Shah

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 20 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed health with a holistic view by initiating various schemes. He added that the number of All India Institute of Medical Sciences in India increased from seven to 23 after Modi became Prime Minister. Shah said that the Centre constructed toilets in 12 crore houses, started the Fit India movement, and initiated Yoga Day, keeping in the holistic view of health. He also highlighted the health benefits of Poshan Abhiyan and the PM Janaushadhi Scheme. 'PM Modi has addressed health with a holistic view. The government constructed toilets in 12 crore houses, started the Fit India movement, initiated Yoga Day, and also introduced schemes like Mission Indradhanush for free vaccination. Poshan Abhiyan - for nutrition of mother and child, Ayushman Bharat - Rs 5 lakh health insurance scheme and PM Janaushadhi Scheme,' Shah said while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Bengaluru campus of Adichunchanagiri University. Speaking about the achievements of the PM Modi government in boosting the health infrastructure of the country, he said that medical colleges in the country are now 780, compared to 387 earlier, and MBBS seats have increased to 1,18,000 seats. ' In 2014, there were only seven AIIMS in the country against 23 AIIMS hospitals. Today, the number of medical colleges in the country is 780, compared to 387 earlier. MBBS seats have increased to 1,18,000 seats,' he said. The Union Home Minister also praised Adichunchanagiri Math for connecting 'many poor and middle-class families with spirituality and selfless action.' ' This Math has connected many poor and middle-class families with spirituality and selfless action,' he said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Karnataka's Bengaluru on Thursday evening, to a warm welcome from BJP leaders and supporters. During his visit, Shah also met senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister, BS Yediyurappa. Sharing a photo from their meeting on X, he wrote, 'Met senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri B S Yediyurappa in Bengaluru.' (ANI)

India Gazette

38 minutes ago

• India Gazette

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh heads to Udhampur for Yoga Day Celebrations

New Delhi [India], June 20 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh left the national capital on Friday for Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir. There, he will participate in the International Day of Yoga celebrations and interact with Armed Forces personnel stationed at the Udhampur Cantonment. 'Leaving New Delhi for Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir. Shall attend the International Yoga Day celebrations tomorrow morning. Also, looking forward to interacting with the Armed Forces personnel at Udhampur Cantt,' Singh posted on X. The Indian Army, in collaboration with Indian diplomatic missions and cultural centres, is commemorating the International Day of Yoga 2025 with great fervour across various international locations. Aligned with the global theme of fostering health, harmony and holistic well-being, multiple yoga events have been organised in the lead-up to June 21, 2025. At the Defence Services Academy (DSA), Myanmar, a Yoga session was observed on June 19 from 4 PM to 5 PM. The session witnessed enthusiastic participation from all students of the Postgraduate and Diploma courses. Notably, 45 Burmese officers from diverse age groups took part in the session, making the event vibrant and engaging. The programme underscored the role of yoga in enhancing physical fitness, mental resilience and inner peace. In Kazakhstan, the Indian Army Training Team (IATT), in partnership with the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, conducted a special yoga session at the National Defence University, Astana, on June 19. The initiative introduced yoga to the Kazakh Armed Forces, emphasising its effectiveness in mitigating stress and lifestyle-related health challenges while promoting overall well-being.' In Tashkent, Uzbekistan, yoga is being celebrated as a national event under the aegis of the Embassy of India. The Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture (LBSCIC), in conjunction with the IATT, is spearheading this mega event under the guidance and supervision of the Ambassador. The event brings together a broad spectrum of participants, including representatives from the Government, the Ministry of Defence, the Armed Forces Academy and civil institutions. As part of the lead-up to the main celebrations on June 21, various yoga modules have already been conducted across Tashkent by LBSCIC's qualified yoga instructors. These sessions have successfully incorporated Friends of Friendly Countries (FFC) members, further reinforcing the message of unity, health and harmony through yoga. The Indian Army's global participation in the International Day of Yoga 2025 reaffirms its commitment to promoting a culture of wellness, mindfulness and shared global values. (ANI)