Nagpur: In a significant development, a vigilance team from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in Mumbai, alongside their Nagpur counterparts, conducted raids on several cold storages in the Kalamna and Chikhli areas of Nagpur on Wednesday, local media reports said. The operation triggered panic among Nagpur’s trader community.
According to reports, these raids were initiated after the FDA received a tip-off about alleged substandard betel nuts being stocked, which had been brought in from other states to meet the increasing demand during the upcoming festive season. The operation has sent shockwaves through Nagpur’s trader community.
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Wednesday 10 Oct. 2024
Nagpur serves as a key hub for betel nut trading, supplying not only the Vidarbha region but also neighbouring states such as Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The raids have cast a spotlight on the local betel nut trade, with reports suggesting that the substandard nuts were being used in the production of illegal and potentially harmful products.
The FDA’s vigilance teams began their raids on Wednesday, but specific details about the operation were not immediately disclosed. It has been learned that samples were collected for quality testing by government analysts, and several stocks were seized during the operation. However, the exact quantity of the seized products has not yet been revealed.
This marks the second major FDA raid by a Mumbai-based team in Nagpur within the last year. Previous reports have raised concerns about the effectiveness of local FDA enforcement, with accusations that local officials had been conducting only superficial checks on betel nut traders. Many believe these traders have been bringing in low-quality betel nuts to be used in the production of banned scented tobacco products.
The substandard betel nuts are reportedly subjected to chemical treatments, mixed with flavours, sweeteners, and edible colours, making them more visually appealing to consumers. These practices have drawn heavy criticism from oncologists, who have long warned about the carcinogenic properties of such products, both with and without tobacco. Despite these warnings, the trade of these harmful products continues to thrive, with authorities accused of turning a blind eye to the public health risks they pose.
The latest raids signal a crackdown on this illegal trade, though the impact of these actions remains to be seen. Further investigations are expected as the FDA tests the seized samples.
