Police Crack Down on Factory Making Dangerous POP Sweets
In India, festivals are often associated with the joy of sharing sweets. People flock to their favourite sweet shops to buy mithai to offer to deities and distribute them among family and friends. However, the growing concern about adulteration in sweets is alarming.
Investigation Findings
A viral video on social media recently exposed a disturbing scam in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, where a small factory made sweets using Plaster of Paris (POP)—a material commonly used for making casts and coating walls. The local police uncovered this operation, raising concerns about food safety.
How Fake Mawa is Made with Harmful Ingredients?
According to the video, creating “fake mawa” starts with mixing semolina (sooji) and refined oil.
- Harmful substances like POP and sugar are added, creating a creamy mixture.
- The mix is then, flattened in baking trays, left to dry, and cut into pieces for sale.
- These adulterated sweets are often sold to local sweet shops, especially during festivals when demand is high.
Public Health Risk and Legal Actions
This isn’t an isolated case. Many similar operations have been uncovered in the past, revealing the use of harmful substances to make sweets such as
- Synthetic milk
- Non-edible colours
- Starch
- Even urea
These adulterants can pose serious health risks, including
- Food poisoning
- Digestive issues
- Long-term damage to vital organs
How to Spot Adulterated Sweets
There are a few simple methods to detect adulteration at home:
- Appearance and Taste: Check for unnatural colours or synthetic flavours. If the silver leaf (varak) on the sweet doesn’t crumble easily, it might be aluminium instead of real silver.
- Texture: If milk-based sweets leave an oily or soapy aftertaste, they may contain synthetic milk.
- Starch Test: Add a drop of iodine to the sweet; if it turns blue, the sweet likely contains starch.
Staying Safe: What You Can Do
To protect your health during festivals, it’s important to buy sweets from trusted sources. Always look for FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) certification, which ensures the quality and safety of food products. Staying informed and vigilant is the key to enjoying sweets without compromising your health.
Source: Inputs from various media SourcesÂ
