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FOOD SAFETY AND consumer health issues have moved a long way in the last few years, only in the reverse direction it seems. Not long ago one could drink water straight from the tap in cities like Mumbai; but no longer. Even bottled water — for which one pays a not so inconsiderable price — has, it transpires from a survey by an NGO Centre for Science and Environment, now become unsafe to drink with the presence of pesticide residues. The finding should come as no surprise because our food laws are antiquated and, worse, the implementation is tardy. Ironically, until a couple of years ago, packaged drinking water, not classified as food, was out of the purview of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and rules thereunder. The government woke up only after the discovery that over 70 per cent of the packaged water sold across the country was contaminated one way or another, and water was brought under the PFA Act and registration of packaging units with the Bureau of Indian Standards made mandatory. However, in our country, it is not surprising that statutory requirements are honoured more in the breach by some unscrupulous producers while law enforcers like food inspectors easily succumb to human frailties, as a result of which consumer welfare continues to be compromised.

In the present controversy over the safety of packaged water, the departments concerned have failed to acquit themselves well or cleanly. There is confusion over the standards to follow. Also, one can discern the hand of the entrenched producers in obtaining the "certificate of safety" from one or the other wing of the government. It would be sad if the industry interprets freedom to do business as licence to do what it wants. Liberalisation brings with it accountability, especially to consumers. The Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs must, therefore, be complimented for taking a tough stand on the issue. For a start, quality standards have been amended and the industry has been directed to take steps to comply with the new specifications. The process of compliance needs to be accelerated. Also, a tolerance limit for pesticide residue in bottled water will soon be specified. So far, so good; and the controversy may die down for now.

But this by no means ends the responsibility of the Government; indeed, it starts now. The Centre should, in an annual exercise, investigate the quality of all packaged food products that fall under the food law. Contamination is the bane not of water alone; a whole lot of food products are sub-standard and marketed in breach of the law. Poor enforcement of the food law encourages unscrupulous producers. A major weakness of the PFA Act is that it is a piece of Central legislation but implemented by the States; and the indifference of the latter in enforcing food laws is well known. Typically, food inspectors lack training while the testing facilities with the government are outdated. In their own long-term interest, industry bodies should evolve a code of conduct, and ensure that the recalcitrant players are exposed. Are we asking for too much?

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