Honey fraud: No bold FSSAI move but ads from erring brands grew, says CSE
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By Vikram Muthanna
Last week, we got some bitter news about something sweet. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reported that when they subjected 13 prominent brands selling honey to a sophisticated test in Germany for adulteration, except three, all other brands failed.
The only three brands that passed were Saffola, Markfed Sohna and Nature’s Nectar.
As fear of refined sugar has increased, so also adulteration of other sources of sweetness. Best example is jaggery.
As jaggery gained popularity as an alternate to sugar, its adulteration started. Mandya jaggery was very popular until jaggery makers from Uttar Pradesh came calling and started adding chemicals to rapidly increase production capacity and visual appeal.
India may curb honey adulterant imports from China: Report
Earlier in December, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said many major Indian honey brands, such ad Dabur and Patanjali, are adulterated with sugar syrup.
Representative image (Pixabay)
The Indian government is planning to curb, or possibly ban, import of high fructose syrup, which is used as an adulterant in some honey brands.
Union MSME minister Nitin Gadkari raised the issue in a letter to Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal, The Times of India reported. Large quantity of high fructose syrup is imported from China and is widely being sold in the market, used for adulteration with honey, as it is difficult to detect even with sophisticated testing, Gadkari said, as quoted by the paper. He added that this was a serious threat to the honey industry and impacted livelihood.
Marico to give pure honey certificates
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Last Updated: Dec 14, 2020, 06:50 PM IST
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Synopsis
The packaged honey category has been in the midst of controversy in recent weeks, after research and advocacy organisation Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said in a report that the honey sold by ten brands including Dabur, Patanjali, Zandu, Hitkari and Apis Himalaya are adulterated with sugar syrup.
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The foods regulator has said it is closely examining the findings submitted by CSE and considering evolving guidelines for the category.
New Delhi: Consumer goods maker
Marico has started a consumer communication exercise encouraging consumers to “receive their own” Saffola honey certificate for every bottle they buy, the company announced on Monday. The company said the certificate is an assurance that the brand “goes through 60+ quality checks”.
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