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Pushpa Girimaji on the need for stricter quality control of mustard oil The dropsy cases in Uttar Pradesh highlight yet again, the poor enforcement of consumer protection laws in the country. The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act specifically prohibits argemone in mustard oil. The oil is required to be sold only in packages, with labels clearly giving the required information about the product, its manufacturer and his complete address. Even though so far, the problem seems to be restricted to Uttar Pradesh, consumers would do well to exercise utmost caution while purchasing mustard oil. Given the poor enforcement of the Act, consumers should make sure that the oil is properly packaged and the seal intact, before buying. It would help to buy oil manufactured by reputed companies. These are precautionary measures, but they do not guarantee that the oil is free from argemone. Consumers should also demand that those selling mustard oil should guarantee that it is free of argemone. Following the dropsy epidemic in Delhi in 1998, where more than 2000 persons were affected and about 41 reported dead, the government insisted on such a certificate. That should now become mandatory. The government should bring mustard oil under mandatory ISI certification to ensure that it is not sold adulterated or contaminated with argemone. Consumers should also insist on enforcement agencies stepping up inspection of mustard oil samples and making public the results of such checks. You can check the oil for adulteration with a simple test. All you need is a small test tube and a little quantity of nitric acid. Add about 5 ml of mustard oil to an equal quantity of pure nitric acid. Shake thoroughly for a minute and then allow the layers — acid and oil to separate. The acid layer showing yellow to orange colour indicates the presence of argemone. Since Argemone Mexicana seeds resemble mustard seeds closely, it is easy for unscrupulous traders and manufacturers to adulterate mustard with argemone. It is said even one per cent of argemone adulteration in the oil is sufficient to cause the symptoms, which appear after the consumption of the adulterated oil for about one to two weeks. The symptoms of dropsy — bloated stomach, acute nausea and vomiting, loose motion, swelling of hands and feet are caused by the toxin "sanguinarine" in Argemone Mexicana. In acute cases, it causes glaucoma and death due to cardiac arrest. Sanguinarine causes increased permeability of the blood vessels which affects the heart, liver and eyes. In such cases, consumers should file either individual or class action suits, demanding compensation from those responsible for adulterating the oil as well as the law enforcement agencies. Following the dropsy epidemic in Behala in West Bengal in 1988, which left hundreds crippled and at least 25 dead, a consumer group had filed a class action suit on behalf of the victims. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in this case directed that the victims be provided adequate health care and medicines (Consumer Unity and Trust Society Vs Union of India and others, original petition no 8 of 100, decided on 8-12-1989). Class action suits are usually filed where a large number of consumers are similarly affected. Here, a common petition can be filed on behalf of all of them, seeking common relief. The amount of compensation can vary, depending on the suffering undergone or the treatment required. |
