Excessive amounts of Malathion, a general use pesticide, have been
detected in a rice sample collected for inspection from the Food
Corporation of India godown at Valiyathura here.
Traces of uric acid, indicating presence of pests, were also found in
three to four samples, of a total of nine samples that were collected in
raids conducted on August 1.
According to Food Safety officials, the presence of Malathion was
detected during tests conducted at the Pesticide Residue Research and
Analytical Laboratory of the Kerala Agricultural College at Vellayani
here while traces of uric acid, which were in amounts that made the rice
and wheat grains ‘unfit for consumption’, were found in tests at the
Government Analyst Laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram.
Officials said the FCI staff had admitted that they used pesticides such
as Malathion, DDVP, and Deltamethrine to keep away pests.
“Apparently, the quantity they used was much above stipulated limits,
which is why Malathion could be detected in the grains though it was
sprayed over the sacks in which the grains are stored. The concentration
was very high,” officials said.
The Food Safety Department will shortly submit a report on the issue to
the State and Union governments. However, action might be initiated only
after Onam, officials indicated, adding that more intensive raids and
elaborate examination of samples would be taken up after Onam at the
godown and other similar food grain storage installations in the capital
district.
Incidentally, the raids on August 1, during which the contaminated
samples were collected, had witnessed unruly scenes when FCI employees
and loading workers refused to let the Food Safety officials in.
The raid was conducted after the Valiyathura police intervened and both
the Food Safety Department and the police had booked cases in connection
with the incident.Source:http://www.thehindu.com
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