Health Minister assures investigation in plastic food issue; experts reject claims

Bengaluru: Karnataka’s Health Minister KR Ramesh Kumar has assured that his ministry would conduct an investigation into the reports on the sale of plastic food including rice, sugar, eggs and others in the state.

The Minister expressed doubt on the authenticity of reports; however, promised a detailed inquiry with regard to the matter.

Leader of opposition, Jagadish Shetter commenting on the Minister’s statement said that there were reports stating that plastic-made food was being distributed even under the government-run Public Distribution System (PDS) in the state. He added that the reports had created a panic amongst public as the food was consumed on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, experts from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) have rejected reports that such food was being sold in the market. Meanwhile, experts opined that it was difficult to produce plastic food at such low cost.

It will cost around Rs 10 to produce a plastic egg, but natural eggs are being sold at a market price of Rs 4 or Rs 5; in such a case how is it possible to release plastic eggs in the market, a trader questioned.