Food Poisoning Fallout: Greater Noida's Buckwheat Flour Scare

In a decisive move, the Gautam Buddh Nagar police have sealed a retail outlet and a primary warehouse after a wave of food poisoning hit several residential societies in Greater Noida. The crackdown came in response to numerous reports from residents of Supertech Ecovillage-3, Royal Court, and Himalaya Pride societies falling ill after consuming meals made from a specific batch of kuttu (buckwheat) flour. Four individuals, including the warehouse owner, have been detained as investigations continue.

This incident highlights a broader concern over food adulteration in India, as voiced by AAP MP Raghav Chadha during a Zero Hour speech in the Rajya Sabha. Chadha described the situation as a 'raging health crisis,' with many Indians unknowingly ingesting food unfit for consumption, even for pets in other countries. His concerns were addressed directly to Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, pointing out widespread contamination and deceptive labeling practices.

Chadha's alarming revelations included specific examples of adulteration: milk mixed with urea, vegetables injected with hormones, and ice cream made with detergents. Such practices, reportedly affecting basic items like edible oils, spices, and sweets, introduce grave health risks, including potential infertility, heart failure, and cancer. He stressed that over recent years, nearly one-fourth of all tested food samples in India were found adulterated, posing a dire threat to public health.