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Honeygate! Only Saffola, MarkfedSohna, Nature's Nectar among 13 brands pass sugar syrup test, claims CSE

Key pointers Out of the 13 brands tested, only three pass the NMR test These three include Saffola, MarkfedSohna and Nature's Nectar 77% of samples found adulterated with sugar Only 5 out of 22 samples pass all tests Indian tests can't detect honey adulteration Alibaba advertises fructose syrups that may go undetected in tests Such samples can bypass Indian standard tests, alleges CSE Indians today are consuming more honey than ever because of its immunity booster properties to protect themselves against COVID-19. But, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has found that almost all brands of honey being sold in Indian markets are adulterated with sugar syrup. Investigations by CSE with laboratory studies in India and Germany found 77 per cent of samples adulterated with sugar syrup. Out of 22 samples tested, only five passed all the tests. CSE had selected 13 top and smaller brands of processed and raw honey being sold in India. Samples of these brands were first tested at the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Gujarat. Almost all the top brands (except Apis Himalaya) passed the tests of purity, while a few smaller brands failed the tests to detect C4 sugar - call it basic adulteration using cane sugar. But when the same brands were tested using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) - laboratory tests currently being used globally to check for such modified sugar syrups - almost all big and small brands failed.

The Biden climate plan: what it means for the world

There are many reasons people outside the US are breathing a heavy sigh of relief at Trump’s failure to win a second term. Climate change is just one, but it is a big one. Joe Biden’s climate rollout will not be perfect, and may be significantly stunted by a divided US Congress, but it goes a long way further than even his predecessor Obama went. He has also signalled noteworthy changes in the international outlook of climate action — and the testing ground for this will be the lead up to next year’s COP26 climate conference in Glasgow. Biden’s climate plan Biden has by far the strongest climate platform any incoming US president has ever had. It has links to, but is narrower than, the Green New Deal, the grassroots climate movement that has helped cement climate action as a major political topic in the US. The platform has a wide array of ambitious domestic goals, many of which will have knock on impacts for other countries due to technology spread. First and foremove, he has pledged to set a net-zero by 2050 target — which would be far more ambitious than any previously set out by the US. This alone could shave 0.1C off global warming by 2100, according to analysts Climate Action Tracker. Many climate experts consider this US goal to be the last strand which can keep the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C within reach, when combined with recent similar pledges by China, the EU, UK, Japan and others. This long term ambition is important to signal direction, but the real test of Biden’s climate plans is what he is able to get done in the next ten years. One area that is especially encouraging is Biden’s plans to embed climate policy across government, including the defense, treasury and transport departments. “From the very beginning of the campaign, when President-elect Biden rolled out his climate plan, he made it clear he sees this as an all-of-government agenda, domestic, economic, foreign policy,” Stef Feldman, Biden’s campaign policy director said in early November. Biden has also set out concrete efforts to address climate justice in the US, including a goal for 40% of overall benefits from clean investment to go to disadvantaged communities. Members of Biden’s transition team – which includes dozens of climate change experts – have reportedly already been asked to identify policies to tackle pollution levels in Black and Latino communities. Another of Biden’s central climate pledges is to put the country on track to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035. The World Resources Institute (WRI) has noted this target can be adopted through regulations under the Clean Air Act (ie without the Senate), advising Biden to also set progressive goals of a 55% cut by 2025 and 75% by 2030, The senate issue One major drag to Biden’s climate plans is, of course, the US Senate. Control of this hangs in the balance ahead of two runoff races in the swing state of Georgia in January. A Democrat win in both would mean a 50-50 tie in the chamber, with vice-president-elect Kamala Harris in control of the deciding vote. A loss in either means a Republican majority It’s worth noting though that Republicans could then lose it in the next 2022 elections halfway through Biden’s term. Without Democratic control of the senate, passing any major climate legislation looks doubtful, and would bring up the old Obama-era question of compromise versus ambition. Areas that are likely to prove especially tricky to pass are implementing a carbon price, clean energy standards and at least parts of Biden’s planned $2 trillion green stimulus plan. However, experts say much of Biden’s climate action plan could still be put into action without the senate via executive order and the US’s federal agencies. Biden has already set out at least 10 executive actions he will take on assuming office in January, including re-implementation of methane emission limits for oil and gas operations and new fuel economy standards for cars. He has also promised a moratorium on new drilling on public lands and waters efficiency, for the federal government to use its own huge financial clout to buy clean energy, and to require public companies to disclose climate risks and emissions in their operations and supply chains. For one thing, even when the US has officially rejoined the Paris Agreement under Biden, its current climate pledge – set under Obama – promises only a completely inadequate pledge to cut 26- 28% by 2025 based on 2005 level. “The US has always been a renegade nation as far as climate action is concerned — the abysmally insignificant targets it has set for itself under the Paris Agreement are a testimony to this,” Indian climate expert Sunita Narain wrote earlier this month. Four years of Trump have also further damaged an already shaky trust in the US’s ability to follow through with its climate commitments. The US has now pulled out of the two major global climate change deals made in the last 25 years (the first being the 1997 Kyoto Protocol).

10 out of 13 honey brands fail ‘purity test’, finds CSE investigation

The investigation also uncovered that Indian companies in the business of honey were importing synthetic sugar syrups from China for adulterating with honey. Honey marketed by prominent brands failed a key test of purity, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has claimed, citing an investigation it conducted on various brands of Indian honey. Current regulations specify around 18 parameters that honey must comply with for producers to label it ‘pure honey.’ CSE food researchers selected 13 brands of raw and processed honey, including Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath and Zandu, and subjected them to tests that are required under national food regulatory laws to be labelled as honey. Most of the brands passed muster but when subjected to one test, called Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR, that can ascertain the composition of a product at the molecular level) that was done at a lab in Germany, only three brands (spanning six samples) passed: Saffola, Markfed Sohna and Nature’s Nectar (one sample of two). There were often multiple samples tested for each brand. The NMR test is not required by Indian law for honey that is being marketed locally but is needed for export. “What we found was shocking” said Amit Khurana, programme director of CSE’s Food Safety and Toxins team. “It shows how the business of adulteration has evolved so that it can pass the stipulated tests in India...We found that sugar syrups are so designed that they can go undetected.” ‘No adulteration’ Dabur Honey in a statement denied that its honey was adulterated with sugar syrup. The company furnished a July 20 report from a German company, Bruker, that is listed as a manufacturer of NMR imaging product, and performed a test of Dabur’s honey composition profile. That report, which The Hindu perused, says there was no evidence of sugar syrup. “Dabur is the only company in India to have an NMR testing equipment in our own laboratory, and the same is used to regularly test our honey being sold in the Indian market. This is to ensure that Dabur Honey is 100% pure without any adulteration,” the accompanying statement noted. The CSE investigation also said some Indian companies in the honey business were importing synthetic sugar syrups from China to adulterate honey.

Most samples of honey found adulterated with modified syrup: CSE

At a time when honey is being touted as an immunity booster against Covid-19, the New Delh- based advocacy group Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) claimed on Wednesday that 77% of samples from 13 top honey brands in the country were found to have been adulterated with a modified syrup to beat safety tests. Only three of 13 brands --- Saffola, Markfed Sohna and Nature’s Nectar --- passed the internationally accepted Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) tests conducted by a German lab, considered the gold standard to detect modified syrup adulteration of honey, CSE’s director general Sunita Narain told reporters. Narain, who released the findings of a four-month-long investigation, said honey samples of leading brands such as Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkary and Apis Himalaya failed the NMR tests. Three of these companies -- Dabur, Patanjali and Emami -- said in separate statements that the honey they produce and market complies with all food safety requirements and their products were 100% safe. A Dabur spokesperson termed the CSE’s report “malicious.” Patanjali said the report was aimed at promoting processed honey. The others didn’t respond. The findings dovetail with practitioners of traditional Indian medicine recommending honey, turmeric, ginger, garlic, coriander, cumin and other foods for their immunity boosting properties as the coronavirus disease pandemic rages. Narain said the findings of the NMR tests were worrying because such products could compromise human health in Covid19 times. “We know that the households are consuming more honey because of its intrinsic goodness --- antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Our research has found honey is adulterated with sugar, which could add to risk of Covid-19. Sugar ingestion is linked to obesity and obese people are more vulnerable to life-threatening diseases,” she said.

Honey sold by major brands is laced with sugar syrup, says CSE

HONEY SOLD by major brands in India are laced with a modified sugar syrup, imported from China as well as manufactured in India, which go undetected during quality checks under prevailing Indian standards, a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) investigation has found. The major brands named by CSE include Dabur and Patanjali. Both have rejected the charges. The CSE also released a paper trail showing revisions in the Indian quality standards for honey brought about by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) between 2017 and 2020. When contacted, the FSSAI said it will study the findings published by the CSE and take necessary action. Addressing a press conference Wednesday, CSE director general Sunita Narain said samples of 10 out of 13 brands, which were examined, failed to clear the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) test, which can provide clues into the composition of a product at the molecular level. Of the 10 brands, three failed to clear even Indian quality standards, while five failed the TMR (test to detect rice syrup) apart from NMR. The tests were carried out in a German lab, Narain said. Incidentally, on August 1, NMR tests were made mandatory for honey being exported from India. Also, TMR tests were removed from the list of quality parameters in October 2019. The German lab found that “Dabur honey passed tests for C3 and C4 sugar, but failed the NMR tests on all three samples. In one sample it also failed on TMR and Patanjali honey passed tests for C3 and C4 sugar, but failed TMR and NMR tests on both samples”. In its response, Dabur India Ltd said, “The recent reports seem motivated and aimed at maligning our brand. We assure our consumers that Dabur Honey is 100% pure. We also assure our consumers that Dabur does not import any honey/syrup from China and our honey is sourced entirely from Indian beekeepers.” “Dabur is complying with the 22 parameters… mandated by FSSAI. In addition, Dabur Honey is also tested for the presence of antibiotics, as mandated by FSSAI. Further, Dabur is the only company in India to have an NMR testing equipment in our own laboratory,” it added. Patanjali Ayurved Ltd MD Acharya Balakrishnan also stressed on the “100 per cent purity” of the company’s product. “It seems to be a plot to defame Indian natural honey industry and manufacturers in a bid to promote processed honey. It further seems to be an international marketing design to promote German technology and machines which cost crores of rupees,” he said.

Honey sold by major brands in India adulterated with sugar syrup: CSE

As of August 1, 2020, NMR tests have been made mandatory The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) investigation on Wednesday has revealed that "nefarious adulteration business of honey designed to bypass purity tests and massive implications for our health during COVID-19 times". The CSE investigations with laboratory studies in India and Germany revealed that "rampant adulteration in honey sold by major brands in India—77 per cent of samples founds adulterated with sugar syrup," a said CSE statement. "Only three out of 13 brands pass the internationally accepted Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) test. Indian standards for honey purity cannot detect the adulteration. This is because Chinese companies have designed sugar syrups to bypass these standards," according to the Centre for Science and Environment, which earlier, unearthed pesticides in major soft-drinks. "This food fraud severely compromises public health in the troubled times of COVID-19. Indians today are consuming more honey because they believe in its intrinsic goodness – antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties – and to build immunity against the virus". "But if it is adulterated honey, what we are eating is sugar, which will add to the challenge of overweight and obesity, which in turn makes us more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 infection," said CSE Director General Sunita Narain.

शहद पर सवाल:CSE के टेस्ट में पतंजलि-डाबर समेत 13 कंपनियों के शहद फेल, बालकृष्ण बोले- ये बदनाम करने की साजिश

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (CSE) ने देश में ब्रांडेड शहद की जांच की है। पतंजलि, डाबर, बैद्यनाथ और झंडू जैसे मशहूर ब्रांड्स के शहद टेस्ट में फेल हो गए हैं। CSE की जांच में इन कंपनियों के शहद में 77% मिलावट पाई गई है। पता चला है कि इसमें चीनी मिलाई गई है। हालांकि, डाबर और पतंजलि ने इस जांच पर ही सवाल उठा दिए हैं। कंपनियों का कहना है कि इस जांच का मकसद हमारे ब्रांड्स की छवि खराब करना है और ये प्रायोजित लगती है। कंपनियों ने दावा किया कि हम भारत में ही प्राकृतिक तौर पर मिलने वाला शहद इकट्ठा करते हैं और उसी को बेचते हैं। इसे बिना चीनी या और कोई चीज मिलाए पैक किया जाता है। कंपनियों ने कहा कि शहद की जांच के लिए फूड सेफ्टी एंड स्टैंडर्ड अथॉरिटी (FSSAI) के नियमों और मानकों का पूरा ध्यान रखा जाता है। डाबर के प्रवक्ता ने कहा कि हमारा शहद 100 फीसदी शुद्ध और देसी है। हाल में जो रिपोर्ट सामने आई हैं, वो प्रायोजित लगती हैं लाखों किसानों को दरकिनार करने की साजिश- बालकृष्ण पतंजलि आयुर्वेद के मैनेजिंग डायरेक्टर आचार्य बालकृष्ण ने कहा- यह भारत के प्राकृतिक शहद बनाने वाली इंडस्ट्री को बदनाम करने की साजिश लगती है ताकि प्रोसेस्ड शहद को प्रमोट किया जा सके। यह विलेज कमीशन और खादी के जरिए लाखों ग्रामीण किसानों द्वारा बनाए जा रहे शहद की जगह प्रोसेस्ड, आर्टिफिशियल, वैल्यू एडेड शहद को लाने की साजिश है। हम 100 फीसदी प्राकृतिक शहद बनाते हैं। यह FSSAI के 100 से ज्यादा मानकों पर भी खरा उतरा है। CSE की जांच में मिलावट का चाइनीज कनेक्शन जांच में पता चला कि अलीबाबा जैसे चाइनीज पोर्टल पर ऐसे सिरप की बिक्री हो रही है, जो टेस्ट को सरपास कर सकते हैं। चीनी कंपनियां फ्रक्टोज के नाम पर ये सिरप भारत को एक्सपोर्ट करती हैं। शहद में इसी सिरप की मिलावट के प्रमाण मिले हैं। CSE ने कहा है कि 2003 और 2006 में सॉफ्ट ड्रिंक में जांच के दौरान जो मिलावट पाई गई थी, उससे भी खतरनाक मिलावट शहद में हो रही है। यह मिलावट हमारे स्वास्थ्य को और नुकसान पहुंचाने वाली है। CSE ने कहा- हमारी रिसर्च में पता चला कि बाजार में बिक रहा शहद मिलावट वाला है। शहद के मुकाबले लोग चीनी ज्यादा खा रहे हैं। इससे कोविड का जोखिम बढ़ गया है, क्योंकि चीनी सीधे मोटापे से जुड़ा मामला है। पिछले साल FSSAI ने आयातकों और राज्यों के खाद्य कमिश्नर को चेतावनी दी थी कि गोल्डन सिरप, इनवर्ट शुगर सिरप और राइस सिरप को इम्पोर्ट कर शहद में मिलाया जा रहा है।

Honey sold by leading Indian brands adulterated with sugar syrup: Centre for Science and Environment

Several leading honey brands sold in India have failed adulteration tests in Germany, an investigation by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) claimed on Wednesday. The CSE study revealed that almost all the brands of honey being sold in Indian markets are adulterated with sugar syrup as 77 per cent of samples in the tests were found adulterated. "It is a food fraud more nefarious and more sophisticated than what we found in our 2003 and 2006 investigations into soft drinks; more damaging to our health than perhaps anything that we have found till now - keeping in mind the fact that we are still fighting againsgt a killer Covid-19 pandemic with our backs to the wall," said CSE Director General Sunita Narain.

Dabur, Patanjali, and Emami decry a study that found what you buy is not all honey

A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) claims that most big Indian brands, including Dabur, Patanjali and Emami, are selling adulterated honey. And that these brands failed an adulteration test carried out by a foreign laboratory. 10 out of 13 honey brands have failed the ‘purity test, the investigation by CSE reveals. However, companies have refuted these allegations. In an email statement to Business Insider, Dabur said that “the recent reports seem motivated and aimed at maligning our brand.” Indian billionaire businessman Acharya Balkrishan from Patanjali also called the report “a plot to defame Indian natural honey industry.” And, added that it might be a way of promoting German technology in India. Top branded honey producers in India, including Dabur, Patanjali, and Emami are allegedly selling adulterated honey with a modified sugar, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). It claims that the big brands failed an adulteration test carried out by a foreign laboratory. However, the leading Indian brands have denied these reports calling them malicious and baseless; and that they comply with the guidelines laid down by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). In an email statement to Business Insider, Dabur said that the recent reports “seem motivated and aimed at maligning our brand. We assure our consumers that Dabur Honey is 100% Pure. It is 100% indigenous, collected naturally from Indian sources and packed with no added sugar or other adulterants.” The manufacturer of Zandu Pure Honey, Emami also said that its “honey conforms and adheres to all the protocols and quality norms/standards laid down by the Government of India and its authorized entities such as FSSAI.” Indian billionaire businessman Acharya Balkrishan from Patanjali has called the report “a plot to defame Indian natural honey industry.” He also added that it might be a way of promoting German technology in India. CSE investigates how the brands adulterated honey The CSE investigation reveals that the companies mixed the naturally acquired honey from bees with sugar syrup procured from rice, corn, beetroot, and sugarcane and passed them off as pure. It also added that almost all brands of honey being sold in Indian markets are adulterated with sugar syrup. The organisation said the repeated use of the terms fructose and glucose on Chinese websites prompted them to look at the imports of these from China.And, when they checked Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry export import database, the two of the FSSAI named syrups — rice syrup and golden syrup — could not be found. However, “Invert sugar” had an HS code but limited shipments. These are the findings: The adulterated honey passed tests of purity when first tested at the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Gujarat. However, when the same brands were tested using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) laboratory tests, which is currently used globally to check for such modified sugar syrups – almost all big and small brands failed, the report said. 77% of the samples were found to be adulterated with addition of sugar syrup. Out of 22 samples tested, only five passed all the tests. Honey samples from leading brands such as Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkari and Apis Himalaya, all failed the NMR test. Only 3 out of the 13 brands – Saffola, Markfed Sohna and Nature’s Nectar (one out of two samples) — passed all the tests. CSE raises the red flag The director general of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Sunita Narain said, “It is a food fraud more nefarious and more sophisticated than what we found in our 2003 and 2006 investigations into soft drinks; more damaging to our health than perhaps anything that we have found till now – keeping in mind the fact that we are still fighting against a killer COVID-19 pandemic with our backs to the wall. This overuse of sugar in our diet will make it worse.”

Dabur, Patanjali among 13 brands adulterating honey with sugar syrup: CSE study

Environment watchdog Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) claimed on Wednesday that honey sold by 13 major brands in India including Dabur has been found adulterated with sugar syrup. Dabur, however, has rejected the allegation in a statement issued today. Food researchers at CSE selected 13 top brands and some smaller brands that sell processed and raw honey in India to check their purity. The researchers found that 77 per cent of the samples were adulterated with sugar syrup. Out of the 22 samples that were checked, only five passed all the tests. The CSE study said honey samples from leading brands such as Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkari and Apis Himalaya failed NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) test. The samples of these brands were first tested at the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Gujarat. The CSE said almost all the top brands passed the tests of purity while a few smaller brands failed the tests to detect C4 sugar or basic adulteration using cane sugar. However, when the same brands were tested using NMR — laboratory tests currently being used globally to check for such modified sugar syrups — almost all the big and small brands failed. Out of the 13 brands, only three passed the NMR test conducted by a specialised laboratory in Germany. The three brands are Saffola, MarkfedSohna and Nature's Nectar (one out of two samples). "What we found was shocking. It shows how the business of adulteration has evolved so that it can pass the stipulated tests in India. Our concern is not just that the honey we eat is adulterated, but that this adulteration is difficult to catch. In fact, we have found that the sugar syrups are designed so that they can go undetected," said Amit Khurana, programme director of CSE's Food Safety and Toxins team, said. Dabur rejects study A Business Today report said Dabur has refuted the findings of the study. As per the Dabur's statement, it is the only company in India to have an NMR testing equipment in its own laboratory. It is worth mentioning that Dabur’s statement also included an attachment of an NMR test report from Germany-based Bruker BioSpin GmbH, dated July 16, 2020. It stated that Dabur Honey had passed the NMR test. The NMR tests have been made mandatory in India for honey that is meant for export as of August 1, 2020. This suggests that the government had an idea about the adulteration by some companies and sought advanced tests to determine the purity of honey. An Emami spokesperson said that the Zandu Pure Honey “conforms and adheres” to all protocols and quality norms and standards laid down by the Government of India and its authorised entities such as FSSAI. However, unlike Dabur, it did not comment on the NMR test which is considered the global standard. Meanwhile, an Apis Himalaya spokesperson replied saying that the company will not comment immediately but will hold a press conference. CSE Director-General Sunita Narain said an additional undercover operation was conducted to find out more details. "Chinese companies informed CSE that even if 50-80 per cent of the honey is adulterated with syrup, it would pass all stipulated tests. A sample of the syrup that can bypass tests was then sent by the Chinese company as paint pigment to get through customs," she said.

CSE stands by its report on adulteration of honey sold by Dabur, Patanjali in India

Honey sold by several major brands in India has been found adulterated with sugar syrup, environment watchdog Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) claimed on Wednesday. CSE food researchers selected 13 top as well as smaller brands of processed and raw honey being sold in India to check their purity. It was found that 77 per cent of the samples were adulterated with the addition of sugar syrup. Out of the 22 samples checked, only five passed all the tests. "Honey samples from leading brands such as Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkari and Apis Himalaya, all failed the NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) test," the study said. Samples of these brands were first tested by the CSE at the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Gujarat. According to the Centre for Science and Environment, almost all the top brands passed the tests of purity, while a few smaller brands failed the tests to detect C4 sugar--it is the basic adulteration using cane sugar. "But when the same brands were tested using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) laboratory tests currently being used globally to check for such modified sugar syrups almost all big and small brands failed. Out of the 13 brands tests, only three passed the NMR test, which was done by a specialised laboratory in Germany," it claimed. "What we found was shocking. It shows how the business of adulteration has evolved so that it can pass the stipulated tests in India. Our concern is not just that the honey we eat is adulterated, but that this adulteration is difficult to catch. In fact, we have found that the sugar syrups are designed so that they can go undetected," said Amit Khurana, programme director of CSE's Food Safety and Toxins team. The CSE also claimed that it tracked down Chinese trade portals which were advertising fructose syrup that can bypass tests to check adulteration. It also found that the same Chinese companies that advertised this fructose syrup that can beat C3 and C4 tests were also exported to India. CSE director general Sunita Narain said they then conducted an undercover operation to find out more. "Chinese companies informed CSE that even if 50-80 per cent of the honey is adulterated with syrup, it would pass all stipulated tests. A sample of the syrup that can bypass tests was then sent by the Chinese company as paint pigment to get through customs," she claimed. Commenting on the development, Patanjali Ayurved spokesperson S K Tijarawala told PTI, "We manufacture only the natural honey, which is approved by the food regulator FSSAI. Our product meets the standards laid by FSSAI.” He also alleged that it was a conspiracy to defame the natural honey producers of the country.

National Green Tribunal extends ban on firecrackers

The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday extended the ban on the sale and use of all firecrackers during the Covid-19 pandemic in Delhi-NCR and other cities, where the ambient air quality is in the poor category or worse. The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday extended the ban on the sale and use of all firecrackers during the Covid-19 pandemic in Delhi-NCR and other cities, where the ambient air quality is in the poor category or worse. The green court said that during Christmas and on New Year, the use of green crackers will be allowed between 11:55 pm to 12:30 am, but only at places where air quality is in the moderate zone or better. A bench headed by NGT chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel, said its direction to restrict the use of firecrackers in places where air quality is ‘moderate’ or below for green crackers and for the duration of not more than two hours, will continue. “There will be a total ban on the sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers during Covid-19 pandemic in the NCR and all cities/towns in the country where the ambient air quality falls under the ‘poor’ and above category,” the bench said. The NGT also directed all district magistrates to ensure that firecrackers are not sold in Delhi-NCR and ordered strict compliance of the ban. The bench said that if individuals face problems due to burning of firecrackers they can consult the district magistrate for compensation. It said, “Any victim of pollution, apart from other remedies, can approach the district magistrate for compensation.” The air quality in Delhi remained in the very poor category on Wednesday, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that with temperatures and wind speeds reducing, the pollution levels are likely to become worse in the coming weeks. Last month, ahead of Diwali, the NGT had imposed a complete ban on the sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers from November 9 midnight to November 30 midnight in not only Delhi and NCR, but well as in places which had recorded ‘poor’ air quality levels in 2019. The NGT had then attached a list of 122 places across the country, which had recorded poor air quality levels in November 2019. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said that a cracker ban can only be successful if its enforcement is ensured efficiently. “Firecrackers were banned even during Diwali, but across neighbourhoods in Delhi and even in NCR towns, we heard cracker bursting and its impact was also seen in the air quality on Diwali night and a day later. Bans can only be successful with effective enforcement and awareness among citizens. They need to be made aware of the side effects of large scale cracker bursting on their and their family’s health,” said Roychowdhury said.

Honey sold by major brands in India adulterated with sugar syrup: Center for Science and Environment

The environmental watchdog Center for Science and Environment (CSE) revealed today that honey sold by many significant brands in India was discovered to be adulterated with sugar syrup. Food scientists from the CSE picked 13 top and smaller brands to verify their purity. 77 per cent of the samples were found to have been adulterated with sugar syrup. Just five out of the 22 samples tested passed all the tests. The study claimed that "Honey samples from leading brands such as Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkari and Apis Himalaya, all failed the NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) test," The the Center for Science and Environment said when these samples were first tested at the Centre for Livestock and Food Research and Learning (CALF) at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Gujarat, they all passed the test, except for a few smaller brands which failed to detect C4 sugar test. "But when the same brands were tested using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) - laboratory tests currently being used globally to check for such modified sugar syrups - almost all big and small brands failed. Out of the 13 brands tests, only three passed the NMR test, which was done by a specialised laboratory in Germany," it claimed. "Our concern is not just that the honey we eat is adulterated, but that this adulteration is difficult to catch. In fact, we have found that the sugar syrups are designed so that they can go undetected," said Amit Khurana, programme director of CSE's Food Safety and Toxins team. The CSE also reported that it had monitored Chinese trade portals that marketed fructose syrup that could circumvent adulteration control checks. The same Chinese companies that advertised this fructose syrup that can beat C3 and C4 tests were also exported to India, it was also found. Sunita Narain, CSE director general, said they then conducted an undercover operation to find out more. "Chinese companies informed CSE that even if 50-80 per cent of the honey is adulterated with syrup, it would pass all stipulated tests. A sample of the syrup that can bypass tests was then sent by the Chinese company as paint pigment to get through customs," she claimed. "We are consuming honey - more of it to fight the pandemic. But honey adulterated with sugar will not make us well. It will, in fact, make us even more vulnerable. On the other hand, what should also concern us is that the loss of bees will lead to a collapse of our food system - bees are critical for pollination; if honey is adulterated, then not only do we lose our health, but also the productivity of our agriculture," she said. Narain said it is time to outwit the business of adulteration. "We need to strengthen enforcement in India through public testing so that companies are held responsible. The government should get samples tested using advanced technologies and make this information public so that consumers are aware and our health is not compromised. It will also hold companies responsible," Narain said. "Ensure that every honey company is required to trace back the origins of the honey - from the beekeeper to the hive," she added. (With inputs from PTI)

CSE responds to statements from Dabur and Patanjali on its investigation in honey adulteration

On December 2, 2020, Delhi based public interest research and advocacy organisation Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released its findings on the nefarious business of adulteration in honey, which is damaging people’s health. Two of India’s big names in the business – Dabur and Patanjali – have issued statements to the media on CSE’s findings. CSE responded to these statements here today. Regrading Dabur’s claim about maligning its brand and that its honey is NMR passed from Germany and is meeting Indian standards CSE says: We stand by our findings. Our findings have revealed that 10 out of 13 brands have failed all tests of purity. Most of these are big brands, including Dabur. This is not only about Dabur. In fact, we have talked about how smaller brands are also adulterated. This is about the consumer’s health. We have shared detailed laboratory results of all samples on our website. The NMR test report available on Dabur’s website and shared with media in support of the company’s statement is a report of the Bruker equipment/machine for NMR profiling. Bruker is a company which developed NMR and promotes it. We would like to make the consumer aware that this is not a laboratory report, which involves expert interpretation of the information by the equipment. In the case of NMR, it is critical that final conclusion on a sample’s adulteration is based on interpretation and confirmation by a laboratory expert on NMR. Even the report shared by Dabur mentions that expert interpretation is necessary before deducing any conclusion. On the other hand, CSE has shared the findings based on laboratory reports from Germany, which involves expert interpretation and confirmation of the data obtained by the machine/equipment. This is a universally accepted practice. Furthermore, Dabur has shared the report of only one sample. Also, there is no mention of the batch number of the sample tested. So, it remains unclear which batch is being talked about. On the other hand, we have provided three batch numbers of three samples tested of Dabur; that is BM3463, with the date of manufacture of May 25, 2020; BM3589, manufactured on July 10, 2020; and BM3636, manufactured on August 5, 2020. All three batches were found to be adulterated. In the absence of this information on laboratory test by the batch number, Dabur’s claim of purity is not tenable. We have also noted that Dabur is constantly changing the language on its claims regarding NMR tests. In earlier advertisements, it has said “NMR tested, pure honey”; as of today — after the release of the CSE investigation — Dabur is claiming “source NMR tested”. “Is this jugglery another attempt to confuse the consumer?” asks CSE director general Sunita Narain. Dabur’s claim about compliance with Indian laws is no surprise. That is what we have been saying — that the business of adulteration is sophisticated. The Indian labs testing for parameters set by the FSSAI could not detect this evolved adulteration. The fact that samples deliberately adulterated by us by up to 50 per cent of syrups passed all Indian tests is a robust proof of this. So, any claim of meeting all Indian standards actually holds limited value. Regarding media reports which quote Patanjali, where CSE is being accused of promoting the German technology. CSE says: We would like to make our position clear once again about this. NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) is an advanced test that can detect adulteration with modified sugar syrups, which may otherwise go undetected. It is being used in different parts of the world for the same reason and even the Indian government has mandated it since August 2020 for honey meant to be exported. So, it could be important to include such advanced testing in government testing system that can help the enforcement agencies to know if the honey sold to consumers is adulterated or not. It can also help the agencies know which companies are selling adulterated honey, which is a crime, and take required punitive action against the defaulters. In fact, we have emphasised that NMR should not be made mandatory because it will likely help for a limited time — the business of adulteration is so sophisticated that very soon there would be syrups which can bypass the NMR test as well. (By Pratyusha Mukherjee)