The discovery, however, should not surprise anybody since it has been known for years, or even decades, that adulteration is an uncontrolled vice which poses a grave threat to public health. Nutritional value of foods has also been lowered greatly, thanks to adulteration and use of low quality ingredients. It is a punishable offence, but, regrettably enough, the dishonest elements involved in it have never been brought to justice the way they ought to have been.

The press has regularly been carrying reports on adulteration and production of substandard foods and other commodities. But that has failed, for some inexplicable reason, to sensitize the decision-makers who are still not ready to embark on a tough mission to stop adulteration. People are not getting value for their money, or even are buying poison at times, but the law enforcers are yet to come to their rescue.

It seems curbing adulteration is not seen as part of governmental functions that primarily revolve around law and order and development projects in our context. Otherwise how is one to explain the continuing lack of a consumer protection law.

The problem is attributable, to a great extent, to the fact that the rights of consumers have been felt only in their conspicuous absence. Selling adulterated foods or spurious medicines amounts to cheating the consumers, apart from being a health hazard. But lack of awareness among people coupled with the age-old tradition of not reacting to the harmful practices has created a situation in which the producers and sellers are getting away with anything and everything.

The CAB leaders have called for greater unity and agitation, if necessary, to put an end to adulteration and production of spurious goods.

However, the government should do its bit by launching a drive against the unscrupulous producers and traders. Since it is not an issue that we can ignore without exposing people to grave health hazards, the law enforcers should act with a sense of urgency.