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Vol. XIX, Issue 3 March 2018 rs 50

www.consumer-voice.org

Overseas Travel Insurance PlansSix Plans Compared

Food Fraud and Adulteration Don’t Be Cheated by These

Malpractices

Product Survey Microwave Ovens

health food, yes, but is it adulteration-free?12 brands tested

Curd (Dahi)

TOP PErFOrMErS

COMPARATIVE TESTCurd (Dahi)Health food, yes, but is it adulteration-free?

IN THE NEWS

10

05

Contents

20 DECODING FOOD LABELSMoong DalWhich brands did not declare their sugar and salt?

27 FOOD & STUFFFood Fraud and Adulteration Don’t be cheated by these malpractices

32 PRODUCT SURVEYMicrowave Ovensserve you right

38 COMPARATIVE STUDY: BFSIOverseas Travel Insurance Plans If you are over 70 and ready to sail (or fly)

44 LEGAL MATTERSCases Pending at Civil Court Consumer forums cannot entertain these

4 •

Editor's Voice

Chief EditorProf PK Ghosh

Mg EditorProf sri Ram Khanna

COOAshim sanyal

Director OutreachAnand Pandeya

GM, Operationsshalini Goyal Bhalla

Editor Padma Pegu

Sales & Distributionniraj Kumar singh

Hindi EditorialRashmi Khati

Online Teamnilanjana BoseAnuradha Gakhar Divya Patwal

Food DeskAshok Kanchan

BFSIGopal Ravi Kumarsubas tiwari

AccountsMonender singh

IT DeskHemant Upadhyay

TechnicalBhaskar Kr MukhopadhyayMAU Khan H Wadhwa KC Choudharysheeba Parveen

LegalAnkur saha

Projects and CSRRinki sharmaAmarjeet singhekta Purohitnaresh PrasadAmrit sindhu

MarketingPranay shethsnehanshu singhAshutosh Massey

SubscriptionFaraz Ahmed

AdminRamanjeet KaurGovind singh

Real Estatesajjan Jindal

Editor’s note: Consumer Voice does not accept any corporate advertisements or advertorials for the magazine. This has been the magazine’s policy since the first issue was published in 1997 and it keeps our reportage unbiased and non-partisan. Consumer Voice regularly publishes laboratory results of product tests. These products are purchased from the retail market before being sent to an independent NABL-accredited laboratory for testing.

We are thankful to Dept. of Consumer Affairs for supporting the initiative of consumer education and empowerment..

the views expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the organization, rather they are to be deemed as personal opinion of the author(s) concerned.© consumer-voice.org All rights reserved. no article, story, test report can be reproduced from this magazine, without a written permission from the editor. Material, test report, data from Consumer Voice cannot be used for any marketing or promotional purposes.All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of compe-tent courts in Delhi/new Delhi only.Libel Insurance: the Consumer Voice libel insurance policy ex-tends to include typesetters, printers, distributors, co-publishers, and newspaper advertisements by VoICe.

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PadmaEditor

Failed transactions, failed service providers

Paytm

While this application came in handy during last year’s demonetisation shock, I now use it only to book an Uber to avoid tipping all the change to the drivers. (Why Uber drivers never seem to have any change on them or why Uber does not have direct payment mechanism is puzzling and yet another story.) So, the problem began when I transferred money from my bank to Paytm wallet through IMPS. The money was debited from my bank, but never got credited to the wallet. I tried reaching out to customer care. Hunting for their number on the application took over 10 minutes. (The phone numbers are at the bottom of the app. Many of you would not have scrolled the Paytm home screen until the bottom.) Another five minutes went in choosing the relevant option (failed transaction) in the automated call system. The moment I selected the option, it asked for a transaction ID, which meant I had to go back to the wallet and find one. There went another five minutes in disconnecting, hunting for transaction ID in the orders section, etc. Well, to my surprise, the visible last transaction was from a week ago. Which meant their system had not generated the failed transaction ID, leaving me with no way to file a complaint over the call. I made another call, spent another five minutes going through all the options to reach a human customer care executive, but the effort was in vain. I then resolved to write to them. Scrolled through email IDs, found one, wrote, and it bounced back. Five more minutes gone. Hunted for another ID, sent the mail, and this time it thankfully reached the destination (I received a robotic confirmation). As of now, the money has not yet been credited either in my bank or in the wallet.

Over thirty minutes of my essential work hours went chasing my own monies for a supposed convenience that Paytm claims to provide as a service provider. How I ended up booking a cab on cash, starting the day late in a foul mood cannot be explained. Being associated with Consumer Voice, I know of all the remedies available to get such issues resolved. However, that would mean more bitterness and many more work hours. So, here I am, relying on technology and robots, etc., to manage the refund. At some point, though, I will lodge a formal complaint with my bank as well as write to the leadership at Paytm since I see that as my responsibility.

PNB and RuPay

While the bank is already dealing with their own issues and media limelight, here is another one for them.

To begin with, one out of four or so retailers does not seem to have RuPay-compatible card-swiping machines – they invariably ask for Visa or Mastercard, if not Amex. The others who accept RuPay cards often complain about their higher rates of failed or declined transactions as compared to other service providers. At least the ones I often deal with say so. Last month, four transactions from my RuPay card failed. Money has been debited from my account, but is yet to be refunded. Retailers have shown their day-end closing receipts which clearly state that they never received money from my bank. Yes, I know that I will now have to call the bank, share failed transaction IDs, lodge a formal complaint, and spend time on a task that does not fit into my long to-do lists. However, I will have to do all of that if I have to claim my money back.

Last message from the bank (presumably meant for all its customers): ‘Due to upgradation activity, PNB debit card services may be impacted intermittently (from ... to ...).’

Anyway, wishing you all a Happy Holi and a happier Digital India.

CONSUMER VOICE MaRCh 2018 • 5

In the News

Digital India: Internet speed is the first big obstacle, finds VOICE study

A recently concluded study conducted by Voluntary Organisation in the Interest of Consumer Education (VOICE) has revealed that the internet speed provided to users across the country is far below what is claimed by their respective service providers. The study concludes that India is amongst the countries with the lowest internet speed in the world.

Titled Assessment of Impact of Quality of Internet Services on Internet Users, the study also establishes that consumers are not able to distinguish between poor, average and good quality of service. The findings are backed with inputs from 52,000 internet users across 19 states of India. Apart from assessing the impact of quality of internet services delivered to its consumers, the study has also outlined the shortcomings and impediments that service providers need to work upon, as well as interventions required of government bodies including the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

The study measured the actual wirelesss internet speeds and found that he average 3G speeds were only 1.5 mbps, while 4G provided an average speed of just about 4.10 mbps – the lowest in the world. As per international norms, 4G speeds are supposed to be between 40mbps and 150 mbps, which means Indian telecom companies that are claiming to be providing 4G technology are actually delivering 3G speeds.

During the study, the VOICE team tried to analyse users’ perception of various parameters of quality of internet, impact of internet on various aspects of life including ease of accessing services like banking and medical, or sociocultural and sociopolitical engagements through online networks and information mediums, as well as its utility in empowering marginalised communities and those with special needs. The report states that despite low speed, internet is playing a significant role in almost all aspects of people’s lives.

Assessing the quality of internet service (QoIS), the report concludes that ‘quality of internet’ is synonymous with the ‘speed of internet’ for common people, and that reliability, availability, costs and customer support by service providers are not perceived to be as significant as the speed while choosing the service provider.

VOICE has shared the following recommendations with TRAI:

• Forbetterqualityof speed,amandatorydisclosureofaveragedownloadspeed shouldbemade,which must be met/provided at least 95 per cent of the times the service is being used.

• Internet service providers (ISPs) should include a speed measurement tool in their apps andmaintain a record of average speed during the day, week and month.

• ISPsshoulddiscloseminimumandmaximumspeedsondaily,weekly,monthlyandquarterlybasis,and compensate consumers for failing to adhere to average download speeds and down time. TRAI should create a mechanism for compensation for quantifiable losses below the benchmark.

• ISPsmustdeclareminimumspeedsatthetimeofsellingplans.

• TRAI’sMySpeedAppshouldbemademorerobustanduser-friendly.Itshouldbeabletoprovidespeed comparisons for each base transceiver station (BTS) and also show comparisons of ISPs at given BTS.

6 •

In the NewsIn the News

• EachISPappmusthaveafeaturetoacceptformalcomplaintandafollow-upmechanismforusersto check outcomes of each complaint.

• TRAIshouldfindawaywherebyaconsumerusinginternetcancometoknowofthereductionin speed or loss of signal at a particular point of time. At present, the phones show E or 3G or 4G signal—sometimes even when there is no signal. When signal is lost, there should be a way to inform the consumer about loss of speed or signal by an adequate label mechanism.

Arbitration agreements cannot oust the jurisdiction of consumer forums

In a recent judgement, the Supreme Court affirmed that arbitration agreements cannot oust the jurisdiction of consumer forums. The order will benefit homebuyers who usually have an arbitration clause in their agreements with the real estate companies. Such clauses lay down that in cases of disputes, aggrieved consumers will have to resort to arbitration before moving to civil courts.

Emphasising upon consumers’ rights, a bench of justices Adarsh K Goel and Uday U Lalit has upheld the National Consumer Commission’s judegment that had maintained that despite an arbitration clause in the agreements, consumers could still knock on the doors of consumer forums to seek quick redressal. The apex court passed this order while dismissing several appeals that were filed by Emaar MGF Land Ltd. “In terms of the signed order, the appeals are dismissed. Pending applications, if any, shall also stand disposed of,” stated the order.

Emaar MGF had challenged the National Commission’s full-bench verdict of July 2017 wherein the apex consumer forum ruled that authority and jurisdiction of consumer forum could not be circumscribed by any arbitration clause. According to the Commission, consumer disputes are not capable of being settled by arbitration and that the jurisdiction of the consumer fora to adjudicate upon consumer disputes is not affected by Section 8 (as amended) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, that mandates reference to arbitration.

Judgements from consumer forums across India

• Britannia fined for selling packet with less than printed weight

Ahmedabad consumer forum has fined Britannia Industries for selling biscuit packets that weighed less than what was printed on them. The forum also asked the company to deposit Rs 25,000 in the Consumer Welfare Fund as a fine and pay another Rs 6,000 to Lalji Patel, the complainant.

Patel had moved the forum after finding that the four biscuit packets he purchased in 2012 weighed less than 122.5 grams, which was the printed weight on them. He verified the actual weight with a local ISO 9001-certified laboratory.

Patel had contended that the four packets of biscuits that he purchased weighed 104 grams, 112 grams, 114 grams and 117 grams, respectively. The consumer forum in its order stated that the difference in actual and printed weights on the packets was not negligible and was more than the maximum permissible error, and hence declared Britannia guilty of ‘unfair trade practice’.

The company had argued that it had sophisticated manufacturing plants where the biscuits were packed in order to maintain the international standard. The variation in weight could have been caused due to transportation and weather conditions. The court, though, found this unjustifiable.

• Airtel found guilty of overbilling

Bengaluru consumer forum has ordered Airtel to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation for overbilling a customer and forcing him to pay the inflated bill by abruptly disconnecting his service. The customer had



opted for a particular plan that had a clear credit limit. However, Airtel charged him beyond the set limit and disconnected the number citing non-payment of bills as reason.

While looking for more internet data and additional talktime, R Murali bought one 1,999 plan from an Airtel outlet in May 2016. The plan promised free local and STD calls including roaming, unlimited SMS and 7.1 GB of internet data. However, within two weeks of usage, the user received a text from Airtel stating he had exceeded his usage limit. Puzzled, the 44-year-old customer called the Airtel executive who convinced him that the new package would kick in within a few days and the discounts would come into effect.

In June 2016, Murali was shocked to receive an email stating his Airtel bill was Rs 9,979. Murali contacted the Airtel helpline and raised a query about how could the 1,999 plan go beyond the cap without the customer receiving any alert. Although the company executives admitted to a possible mix-up and assured Murali of sorting out the issue, they only barred all his services within a few days. This forced him to lodge a formal complaint at the forum.

• Aakash Institute penalised for poor service

Convinced that Aakash Institute had failed to provide the services it promised, Ahmedabad consumer forum has penalised the institute and asked its Ambawadi branch of to pay Rs 20,000 to the complainant along with eight per cent interest from 14 September 2017 till the date of payment. It also asked the institute to pay the legal cost of Rs 5,000 besides Rs 5,000 for causing mental harassment.

In a complaint filed by Devesh Dand, father of a Class 10 student, it was stated that the student was to take coaching for Class X ICSE board exams and paid a registration fee of Rs 5,750 in April 2017. While enrolling, the student was told that coaching would begin on an immediate basis. However, the classes were delayed by over a month and eventually started with only two students. Also, the classes focused on CBSE and Gujarat board curriculum and not ICSE, for which the student had enrolled.

All complaints made to the institute by the student and his father went in vain. Aggrieved, Dand filed a formal complaint at the forum.

• SBI to compensate for issuing recovery notice for settled loan

In an interesting ruling, Nagpur district consumer forum has directed State Bank of India (SBI) to pay compensation to a customer for sending him a recovery notice for a loan that was already repaid.

“This decision will have long-lasting impact on banks for sending recovery notices even after loan was paid and paying no heed to requests of the consumers. The forum found deficiency in service by SBI and directed bank to pay Rs 5,000 towards mental harassment and Rs 2,500 as litigation costs to the consumer,” the lawyer representing the consumer said in his statement to the media.

V Sahasrabuddhe had availed a loan of one lakh rupees from SBI’s Dharampeth branch in Nagpur. However, he could not repay the loan on time, resulting in the loan being transferred in SBI’s Stressed Assets Recovery (SAR) branch. The SAR branch offered a one-time settlement scheme, which he accepted and thereafter repaid and settled his loan.

However, in 2015, the bank’s Dharampeth branch, from where he had availed the loan, sent him a notice for recovery, along with a warning that action would be initiated against him under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act. After receiving the notice, Sahasrabuddhe visited the bank branch with his loan-settlement documents and requested for a no-dues certificate, which was declined by the branch.

After hearing both the parties, the forum observed that after the loan was paid in one branch, the demand for repayment by another branch amounted to deficiency in service. It held SBI liable to pay the costs for litigation and mental harassment.

8 •

Voice Outreach

Road safety

The Consumer Voice team along with state partners organised Road Safety Week from 1 to 7 February on the theme ‘5 Days, 5 Pledges’. The event was focused on sensitisation of various stakeholders including the masses, the media, and the policymakers, so as to garner support for the early passage of the Motor Vehicles Amendment (MVA) Bill, 2017.

These five ‘risk’ aspects were highlighted during the Road Safety Week: 1) seatbelts and child restraints; 2) speeding; 3) helmet; 4) drinking and driving; and 5) electronic braking system and airbags. Workshops were organised by state partners in Assam (Guwhati), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow), NCR (Noida), Chandigarh and Haryana (Panchkula). There were interactions with various stakeholders including students, consumers, victims, civil society organisations, identified champions, media persons, and traffic police, focusing on the five risk factors, road safety in India, and the need for early passage of the MVA Bill.

Uttar Pradesh

Consumer Voice in collaboration with state partner Consumer Guild organised the event at Lucknow. The campaign concluded with a press meet that witnessed the participation of Ashutosh Soti, president of Shubham Soti Foundation; Major Ashish Chaturvedi; Pratyush Chaubey, advocate, High Court; Abhishek Srivastava, chairman, Consumer Guild; and Ms Rinki Sharma, head projects, Consumer Voice New Delhi.

Chandigarh and Panchkula

Here, the state partner was Citizen Awareness Group. The programme was held at different academic institutions. Among the prominent guests and speakers were Jagwinder Singh, Paralympic cyclist; Mrs Upinder Walia, mayor, Municipal Corporation, Panchkula; and Mrs Sushma Khanna, MD, Women Welfare Trust. The press conference was held in the presence of Vivek Atrey, former deputy commissioner, Panchkula, and Hemant Upadhyay from Consumer Voice.

Assam

At the event organised with state partner Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum (CLPF), participants included Nava Thakuria, secretary, Guwahati Press Club, and eminent journalist Ranen Goswami. More than 400 participants attended the Road Safety Week programme.

National Capital Region

Along with state partner Bhartiya Manav Kalyan Samiti, Consumer Voice organised Road Safety Week in Noida and Ghaziabad.




Certificate of Recognition being handed over by Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer Voice, to Pawan Pandey, senior marketing manager, Dabur India Ltd, on Real Activ and Real Fruit Power being ranked No. 1 in the comparative product testing of fruit juices and fruit drinks/beverages, respectively. The reports were published in the February 2018 issue of Consumer Voice.

FOrM IV (See rule 8)

Statement about ownership and other particulars about publication cONSUMEr VOIcE1. Place of Publication: E-34, East of Kailash,

New Delhi-1100652. Periodicity of Publication: Monthly3. Printer’s Name: Prof. Sri ram Khanna Nationality: Indiana) Whether citizen of India: Yesb) If a foreigner, the country of origin: Na E-34, East of Kailash,

New Delhi-1100654. Publisher’s Name: Prof. Sri ram Khanna Nationality: Indiana) Whether citizen of India: Yesb) If a foreigner, the country of origin: Na address: E-34, East of Kailash, New

Delhi-110065

5. Editor’s Name: Padma Pegu Nationality: Indiana) Whether citizen of India: Yes Address: a-71, 2nd Floor, c.r. Park,

New Delhi-1100196. Names and addresses of individuals who own

the magazine and partners or shareholders holding more than one percent of total capital:

VOIcE SOcIETY E-45, East of Kailash, New Delhi-110065 I, Prof. Sri ram Khanna hereby declare that

the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Sd/ Prof. Sri ram Khanna Signature of Publisher Date: 28 February 2018

10 •

Any number of health benefits are attributed to good old curd. Heart health, bone health, teeth health, immunity boost, you name it. Moreover, the nutrients present in curd are easily absorbed by your digestive system. not only that, it also helps in absorbing nutrients from other food items that you have eaten. eat it with spicy food, bland food, neutral food, the curd will complement most of them. then there are the good bacteria that curd brings to your system. Curd can be one of the best sources of good bacteria. the following report covers 2 brands of probiotic curd and 10 of plain curd. With any number of brands out there laying claims to health and taste, it may be useful to know the parameters with which to assess their quality, safety and acceptability. A couple of findings from our test results will reveal to us that the important determinants of quality vary across brands.

A Consumer Voice Report

Curd (Dahi)Health food, yes, but is it adulteration-free?

Comparative Test

The plain curd brands were prepared from toned milk, while the probiotic brands were prepared from double-toned milk. As per our standard procedure, we undertook market research to identify

the regular-selling brands of curd across the country. We tested the 12 samples on various quality, safety and acceptability parameters.

The key parameters included milk fat, solids not fat (SNF), milk protein, calcium, phosphorus,

carbohydrates, cholesterol and saturated fats. We also carried out a series of tests to check for presence of heavy metals and microbiological contamination. The testing was conducted at an NABL-accredited laboratory.

The samples were tested as per specifications laid out by FSS Regulations, 2011, and Indian Standard IS: 9617.


Curd (Dahi)

CV RECOMMENDATIONS | TOP PERFORMERS

Probiotic Curd

Nestle a+ Actiplus

Plain Curd

Namaste India

VALUE FOR MONEY

Namaste India

KeyFindings

• Basedontheoveralltestfindings,thetopperformersareNestlea+Actiplusinprobioticcurdcategoryand Namaste India among plain curd brands.

• Thevalue-for-moneybrandisNamasteIndia.

• Inplaincurdcategory,Namaste IndiaatRs28 for400gmwascheapest.MotherDairyAdvancedProbiotic was cheaper than Nestle Actiplus Probiotic, which was costliest among all 12 brands tested.

• Milk protein content was found highest inMother DairyAdvanced in probiotic category and inNamaste India among plain curd brands.

• Amountofsolidsnotfat(SNF)washighestinNestlea+Actiplus(11.9percent)inprobioticcurdcategory and in Gowardhan (10.7 per cent) among plain curd brands.

• Milk fatwas foundhighest inNamasteIndia(3.61percent)ascomparedtootherbrands(3.0percent–3.1percent)intheplaincurdcategory.Inprobioticcategory,Nestlea+Actiplus(2.1percent)was higher in milk fat than Mother Dairy Advanced, giving more value for money to consumers.

• CholesterolwashighestinParas,VitaandBritannia,inthatorder.ItwaslowestinprobioticbrandsNestle and Mother Dairy.

• SaturatedfatwashighestinNamasteIndia(2.6percent)andlowestinMotherDairyAdvanced(1.2per cent).

• CalciumandphosphoruswerefoundhighestinNamasteIndia.

• Insensorypaneltests,MotherDairyAdvancedProbioticperformedontopandwasfollowedbyNestlea+ActiplusProbiotic.

• Allbrandsclearedthetestsformicrobiologicalsafety.

• Arsenicandleadwerenotdetectedinanyofthebrands.

12 •

BRANDSTESTED

Score Rating: >90: excellent*****, 71–90: very good****, 51–70: good***, 31–50: average**, up to 30: poor*

#‘Use by’ date is mentioned in foods where shelf life is not more than seven days and declaration of manufacturing date may not be required.

Comparative Test

Rank TotalScoreoutof100(roundedoff)

Brand MRP(Rs) Netweight(gm) Costper100gm,Rs Bestbefore Manufactured/Marketedby

ProbioticCurd ProbioticCurd

1 89 Nestlea+ActiplusProbiotic 70 400 17.50 15 days Nestle India Ltd

2 87 Mother Dairy Advanced Probiotic 50 400 12.50 15 days Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd

PlainCurd PlainCurd

1 86 Namaste India 28 400 7.00 ‘Use by’ date# NIF Pvt. Ltd

2 85 Gowardhan 25 200 12.50 15 days Parag Milk Foods Ltd

3 84 Mother Dairy Classic 20 200 10.00 10 days Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd

3 84 Madhusudhan 20 180 10.00 ‘Use by’ date# Cremy Foods Ltd

4 83 Nestlea+Nourish 25 150 16.66 15 days Nestle India Ltd

4 83 Ananda Gopaljee 25 200 12.50 15 days Gopaljee Dairy Foods Pvt. Ltd

4 83 Vita 18 200 9.00 ‘Use by’ date# The Ballabgarh Co-Op. Milk Producers Union Ltd

4 83 Amul Masti 22 200 11.00 15 days Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd

5 81 Britannia Daily Fresh 55 400 13.75 15 days Britannia Industries Ltd

5 81 Paras 45 400 11.25 10 days VRS Foods Ltd


BRANDSTESTED

Curd (Dahi)

Rank TotalScoreoutof100(roundedoff)

Brand MRP(Rs) Netweight(gm) Costper100gm,Rs Bestbefore Manufactured/Marketedby

ProbioticCurd ProbioticCurd

1 89 Nestlea+ActiplusProbiotic 70 400 17.50 15 days Nestle India Ltd

2 87 Mother Dairy Advanced Probiotic 50 400 12.50 15 days Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd

PlainCurd PlainCurd

1 86 Namaste India 28 400 7.00 ‘Use by’ date# NIF Pvt. Ltd

2 85 Gowardhan 25 200 12.50 15 days Parag Milk Foods Ltd

3 84 Mother Dairy Classic 20 200 10.00 10 days Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd

3 84 Madhusudhan 20 180 10.00 ‘Use by’ date# Cremy Foods Ltd

4 83 Nestlea+Nourish 25 150 16.66 15 days Nestle India Ltd

4 83 Ananda Gopaljee 25 200 12.50 15 days Gopaljee Dairy Foods Pvt. Ltd

4 83 Vita 18 200 9.00 ‘Use by’ date# The Ballabgarh Co-Op. Milk Producers Union Ltd

4 83 Amul Masti 22 200 11.00 15 days Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd

5 81 Britannia Daily Fresh 55 400 13.75 15 days Britannia Industries Ltd

5 81 Paras 45 400 11.25 10 days VRS Foods Ltd

What is curd?

Curd, or dahi, is produced by bacterial fermentation of boiled milk. The bacteria used to make dahi are known as ‘dahi cultures’. The quality of dahi depends on the culture used as well as the initial quality of milk and other ingredients added.

In other words, curd is milk that has been acted upon by a particular kind of healthy bacteria. It improves the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut.

What is yoghurt?

Yoghurt is similar to curd but is made using a different strain of bacteria called Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. Other strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) may also be added in addition to these in the yoghurt.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are ‘live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.’ Lactic acid bacteria and bifido bacteria are the most common types of microbes used as probiotics; certain yeasts and bacilli may also be used. Probiotics are commonly consumed as part of fermented foods with specially added active live cultures, such as in dahi or as dietary supplements.

14 •

TESTRESULTSFORPHYSICOCHEMICAL

PARAMETERS

Milk Fat | Solids Not Fat | Milk Protein | Calcium | Carbohydrates | Saturated Fat | Acidity as Lactic Acid

| Phosphorus | Cholesterol | Whey

MilkFat

Fat is an essential part of any balanced diet, providing essential fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins and a concentrated source of energy. As per FSS Regulations and Indian Standard, curd should have the same minimum percentage of milk fat as the milk from which it is prepared. If the curd is sold or offered for sale without any indication of class of milk, the standards prescribed for curd prepared from buffalo milk will apply.

As per their declaration, all the brands of plain curd have been made from toned milk and the probiotic curd are from double-toned milk. The minimum requirement for milk fat is 3 per cent for toned milk and 1.5 per cent for double-toned milk.

• All brands fulfilled the minimum requirement for milk fat content.

• Namaste India (3.6 per cent) had the highest amount of milk fat among all the tested brands. Nestle a+ Nourish with 3.2 per cent came next.

As per Dietary Guidelines for Indians by National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, 2011, diets of young children and adolescents should contain about 30 grams to 50 grams fat per day. So, a higher amount of milk fat is better for young consumers.

SolidsNotFat(SNF)

Apart from fat, all other solids such as protein, lactose, vitamins and minerals together make up solids not fat. SNF is the most essential part of the milk. As all nutrients are required by the body, higher SNF quantity is better.

As per Indian Standard, dahi should have the same minimum percentage of SNF as the milk from which it is prepared. As mentioned earlier, all the brands of plain curd have been made from toned milk

and the probiotic curd are from double-toned milk. The minimum requirement for SNF is 8.5 per cent for toned milk and 9 per cent for double-toned milk.

• SNF content was above the minimum requirement in all brands. It was highest in Gowardhan (10.7 per cent) among plain curd brands and in Nestle a+ Actiplus (11.9 per cent) among the probiotic brands.

MilkProtein

Proteins are an extremely important class of naturally occurring compounds that are essential to all life processes. They perform a variety of functions in living organisms. As yet, there is no requirement in the Indian Standard for protein content in curd. We checked the brands on their declared values.

• Protein content in all the brands was close to their declared value.

• Mother Dairy Advanced and Namaste India had highest protein content. Protein percentage in Britannia (plain curd) was found to be slightly less than its claim.

Mineral-Rich

While curd is rich in calcium and phosphorus, it cannot compete with liquid milk products when it comes to supplying the human body with these essential mineral compounds.

• Calcium was highest in Namaste India (192.3 mg/100 gm) and lowest in Britannia (138.3 mg/100 gm).

• Phosphorus was highest in Namaste India (123.1 mg/100 gm) and lowest in Nestle a+ Nourish (96.1 mg/100 gm).

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the sugars, starches and fibres found in fruits, grains, vegetables and milk products. Carbohydrates are a source of energy and expected to be higher in curd. Lactose is the major carbohydrate fraction in milk.

• Carbohydrates amount was highest in Nestle a+ Actiplus (6.9 per cent) among the probiotic brands and in Gowardhan (6 per cent) among the plain curd brands.

Comparative Test


SaturatedFat

Saturated fats are derived from animal fat as well as vegetable fat. These fats directly raise total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and are expected to be as less as possible in curd. Lower saturated fat is considered to be better.

• Saturated fat was found highest in Namaste India (2.6 per cent) in plain curd category. It was lowest in Mother Dairy Advanced (1.2 per cent) in probiotic category.

TitratableAcidityasLacticAcid

Total titratable acidity is the total amount of acid in the food product. Acidity is due to lactic acid produced by the action of bacteria on the lactose in milk. As acidity increases with the storage time, this parameter is also a means of checking storage conditions. Total acidity of curd is mandatorily required to be a minimum 0.6 per cent as per FSS Regulations. As per Indian Standard, which is voluntary, the same shall be in the range of 0.6 per cent to 0.8 per cent.

• All the brands met the requirement mandated by FSS Regulations, with acidity in the range of 0.8 per cent to 1.3 per cent.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol plays a central role in many

biochemical processes but is best known for the association of cardiovascular disease. There are two main types of cholesterol – LDL (bad cholesterol), which can result in fatty deposits in our arteries, and HDL (good cholesterol), which absorbs cholesterol and carries it back to the liver, which flushes it from the body. Cholesterol is expected to be as low as possible.

• The two brands in probiotic category had lowest cholesterol.

• Among plain curd brands, Paras (10.4 mg/100 gm), Vita (10.3 mg/100 gm) and Britannia Daily Fresh (10.1 mg/100 gm) had the highest amounts of cholesterol. It was lowest in Gowardhan (3.4 mg/100 gm).

Whey(asseparatedwater)

After the fat and casein have been removed from milk, one is left with whey, which contains the soluble milk salts, milk sugar and the remainder of the milk proteins. In our interpretation of the results, we have considered less whey quantity as better.

• In probiotic curd category, Mother Dairy Advanced was found to have less whey. No whey was found in the plain curd brands Namaste India, Vita, Amul Masti and Britannia Daily Fresh.

Curd (Dahi)

16 •

PHYSICOCHEMICALSCORES

Parameters↓ Weightage(%) ProbioticCurd PlainCurd PlainCurd

Nestlea+Actiplus

MotherDairyAdvanced

Namaste

India

Gowardhan MotherDairyClassic

Madhusudan Nestlea+Nourish

AnandaGopaljee

Vita AmulMasti

BritanniaDailyFresh

Paras

Milk fat 12 12 8.4 11.57 8.64 8.64 8.64 9.6 8.64 8.64 9.12 8.64 9.12

Solids not fat 10 10 9.50 7.75 9.55 7.75 7.6 8.2 7.6 8.35 7.15 8.2 7.9

Milk protein 8 7.2 8.0 7.44 6.72 6.32 7.2 6.08 6.48 6.08 6.96 6.32 6.32

Calcium 6 4.33 4.08 5.72 3.89 5.03 4.92 3.87 4.86 4.96 4.07 3.78 5.47

Carbohydrates 6 6 5.70 4.2 6.0 4.8 4.2 5.28 4.8 5.4 4.08 5.4 5.04

Saturated fat 5 4.5 4.75 3.1 3.70 3.70 3.70 3.4 4.0 3.85 3.55 3.40 3.55

Acidity as lactic acid 5 2 2.5 3.5 3.5 2.5 4.5 4 3 3.5 4.5 3.5 4

Phosphorus 5 3.65 3.38 4.66 3.85 4.54 3.79 3.31 4.07 4.26 3.95 3.38 4.52

Cholesterol 4 4.0 4.0 1.92 3.87 3.62 3.36 3.55 2.53 1.66 3.55 1.72 1.63

Whey 3 1.29 2.28 3.0 1.45 2.35 1.34 1.56 2.88 3.0 3 3.0 0.9

Comparative Test

As Probiotic As Their Word

Probiotic curd brands claim that they have more beneficial bacteria that are good for health. The good bacteria most commonly used as probiotics are lactic acid bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. We tested the two probiotic brands as per their claim and found Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium in Nestle and Mother Dairy, respectively.


PHYSICOCHEMICALSCORES

Parameters↓ Weightage(%) ProbioticCurd PlainCurd PlainCurd

Nestlea+Actiplus

MotherDairyAdvanced

Namaste

India

Gowardhan MotherDairyClassic

Madhusudan Nestlea+Nourish

AnandaGopaljee

Vita AmulMasti

BritanniaDailyFresh

Paras

Milk fat 12 12 8.4 11.57 8.64 8.64 8.64 9.6 8.64 8.64 9.12 8.64 9.12

Solids not fat 10 10 9.50 7.75 9.55 7.75 7.6 8.2 7.6 8.35 7.15 8.2 7.9

Milk protein 8 7.2 8.0 7.44 6.72 6.32 7.2 6.08 6.48 6.08 6.96 6.32 6.32

Calcium 6 4.33 4.08 5.72 3.89 5.03 4.92 3.87 4.86 4.96 4.07 3.78 5.47

Carbohydrates 6 6 5.70 4.2 6.0 4.8 4.2 5.28 4.8 5.4 4.08 5.4 5.04

Saturated fat 5 4.5 4.75 3.1 3.70 3.70 3.70 3.4 4.0 3.85 3.55 3.40 3.55

Acidity as lactic acid 5 2 2.5 3.5 3.5 2.5 4.5 4 3 3.5 4.5 3.5 4

Phosphorus 5 3.65 3.38 4.66 3.85 4.54 3.79 3.31 4.07 4.26 3.95 3.38 4.52

Cholesterol 4 4.0 4.0 1.92 3.87 3.62 3.36 3.55 2.53 1.66 3.55 1.72 1.63

Whey 3 1.29 2.28 3.0 1.45 2.35 1.34 1.56 2.88 3.0 3 3.0 0.9

Curd (Dahi)

Heavy Metals

Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and mercury are toxic or poisonous when these accumulate in the body due to exposure through food or water. These should not be present in higher than the limits specified in the national standards. We tested the 12 brands for presence of arsenic and lead.

• Forarsenic,thespecifiedlimitforcurdisamaximum1.1ppm(mg/kg)asperFSSRegulations.Arsenicwasnot detected in any of the tested brands, the detection limit being 0.05 mg/kg.

• For lead, the specified limit for secondarymilk products (curd is one) is 0.02 ppm (mg/kg) as per FSSRegulations. Lead was not detected in any of the brands.

Microbiological Activity

Microbiological contamination is a very serious issue for milk products. We conducted this test for coliform count and yeast and mould count. These microorganisms are responsible for many food-borne diseases. Due to improper or poor hygienic condition during the manufacturing process, microorganisms may occur in the finished product.

All the 12 curd brands were found to be free from any microbial contamination. Coliform count as well as yeast and mould count in all the brands was found to be <10 cfu/gm, thereby meeting the requirement.

Lead is extremely toxic to humans and affects the liver, kidneys, reproductive system and nervous system. Lead exposure can happen quietly and causes permanent problems, especially to the brain. Exposure to small amounts of lead over a long period of time is called chronic toxicity. Lead is particularly dangerous because once it gets into a person’s system, it is distributed throughout the body just like helpful minerals such as iron, calcium and zinc. And lead can cause harm wherever it lands in the body.

18 •

Comparative Test

FORSENSORYATTRIBUTESPanel members judged the samples for these

sensory attributes: colour and appearance, flavour, body and texture, and packing. These tests were conducted under the supervision of trained experts.

• Mother Dairy Advanced was rated as the moreacceptable brand among the two probiotic brands. Among the plain curd brands, Nestle, Mother Dairy and Madhusudan were rated as the best.

Brand Scoreoutof20

ProbioticCurd

Mother Dairy Advanced Probiotic

18.6

Nestlea+ActiplusProbiotic 18.5

PlainCurd

Nestlea+Nourish 18.3

Mother Dairy Classic 18.3

Madhusudan 18.3

Britannia Daily Fresh 17.9

Ananda Gopaljee 17.9

Gowardhan 17.7

Amul Masti 17.5

Namaste India 17.3

Vita 17.1

Paras 17.0

Brand MajorPlus

ProbioticCurd

Nestlea+ActiplusProbiotic

Highest SNF (11.7%), lowest cholesterol, carbohydrate highest

Mother Dairy Advanced Probiotic

Cheaper than Nestle, lower saturated fat and cholesterol, best in sensory tests

PlainCurd

Namaste India Highest in milk fat, milk protein, calcium and phosphorus

Gowardhan High in SNF and carbohydrates

Mother Dairy Classic

Fares well in sensory tests, meets the requirements

Madhusudan Fares well in sensory tests

Nestlea+Nourish Fares well in sensory tests, meets the requirements of standards

Vita Meets the specified requirements

Amul Masti Relatively low cholesterol

Britannia Daily Fresh

Meets the specified requirements


Curd (Dahi)

FORGENERALQUALITIES

Marking/LabellingThe following details shall be marked on the

product label:

a) Name of product

b) Name and address of manufacturer

c) Net weight

d) Batch number

e) MRP

f) Date of manufacturing

g) Expiry date/’Use by’ date

h) Nutritional information

i) Storage instructions

• Allbrandshavetherequiredinformationontheirlabels.

Net Weight

Net weight should not be less than the declared quantity and shall be within the permitted limits of Legal Metrology Rules.

• Netweightinmostofthebrandsiseitherasperdeclaration or higher than the declared value.

PackagingPackaging plays an important role in maintaining

consistent quality of the product and in preventing its deterioration. The curd should be packed in food-grade material for it to retain its natural properties within its shelf life.

• All brands except Namaste India are packed incup-shaped plastic sealed containers. Namaste India is in a polypack. It also comes in cup packing.

Health Benefits of CurdCurd is full of calcium, vitamin D, protein and healthy gut bacteria. There is no doubt that curd is full of nutrition and will benefit you if you include it in your daily diet. Consider these benefits:a) Strong bones and teeth: Curd is a rich source of calcium and phosphorus and is essential for the

maintenance of strong bones and teeth. b) Helps boost immunity: Curd has been found to contain good bacteria that help to fight infections

and provide a boost to your immunity levels. c) Good for heart: Curd has been found to be great for the heart. It helps to control high blood pressure

levels and lower cholesterol levels. Regular consumption of curd has been found to prevent the thickening of arteries.

d) Good for digestion: Make sure to have a bowl of curd after you have eaten spicy food. The heat from the food is neutralised by the curd that you consume. It is also great in treating peptic ulcers.

Is Branded Curd Better than the Homemade one?Yes for mainly three reasons:a) The main ingredient that makes curd firmer and gives it a smooth texture is the high SNF content in

the milk used. Commercially made curd will have higher SNF content (around 10 per cent), which is attained through techniques applied during manufacturing or through added SNF. Homemade curd will generally have SNF of around 8 per cent–9 per cent, which makes a big difference.

b) The process followed commercially is highly standardised – for example, for how long to heat milk at what temperature, when to add the culture, for how long to set the curd in incubator, and so on. This is very difficult to follow at home, even if you know the parameters.

c) The culture used in the commercial production of curd is monoculture of a single cloned bacterium or it may be a mixture of some specific bacteria. This brings consistency in the texture and taste. At home we use the culture from the previous curd, which can deteriorate over the period of reuse, and taste would change.

Dear readers: We are open to hearing your suggestions on products and services that you believe should be reviewed/tested by Team Consumer Voice. You may write to [email protected]

20 •

A popular snack/namkeen (from ‘namak’, meaning salt) in India, moong dal is considered to be

rich in protein and low in fat. there is also the instant energy (and satisfaction) that comes from

savouring a favourite snack. talking of energy, it is one of the things whose value should be

mentioned on the label of the moong dal packet. this and the amounts of protein, carbohydrate,

fat, sugar, etc. With the many brands of moong dal snack on the retail shelves, we are definitely

better off knowing on what basis to take our pick. the most obvious place to start with is the

information given on the label, and that’s what we will do in the following report. Given that

nutrition labels are not always easy or simple enough to interpret, or standardised for enabling

comparison among brands in a specific category, we have here culled out the essential details

on the basis of which we as consumers can make informed and healthy choices. Interestingly,

while declaration of sodium/salt on food products label is not mandatory as per Indian law, it

was declared by a few among the eight brands we studied.

Moong DalWhich brands did not declare their sugar and salt?

Decoding Food Labels


We chose eight popular brands of moong dal to interpret the nutritional information given on their labels.

SlNo. Brand Manufactured/Marketedby

1 Bikano Bikanerwala Foods Pvt. Ltd

2 Haldiram’s Haldiram Snacks Pvt. Ltd

3 Kaleva Kaleva

4 Kurkure Pepsico Holdings Pvt. Ltd

5 Masti Oye Reliance Retail Ltd

6 Parle Parle Biscuits Pvt. Ltd

7 Patanjali Patanjali Ayurved Ltd

8 Tasty Treat

Future Consumer Enterprise Ltd

Energy and Protein

SlNo. Brand

Energy Protein

In100gm(kcal)

%ofRDAformandoingsedentarywork

In100gm(gm)

%RDAforman

1 Bikano 496.57 21.4 21.2 35.3

2 Haldiram’s 442.6 19.1 22.8 38.0

3 Kaleva 482.0 20.8 21.0 35.0

4 Kurkure 495.0 21.3 22.0 36.7

5 Masti Oye 477.0 20.6 26.0 43.3

6 Parle 493.0 21.2 21.5 35.8

7 Patanjali 469.8 20.2 24.95 41.6

8 Tasty Treat 460.0 19.8 20.0 33.3

Protein to protein, moong dal is better than bhujia

In our study of bhujia in the Decoding Food Labels series published in February 2017, covering 7 brands of plain bhujia and 6 of aloo bhujia, the average protein amount was found to be 11.7 per cent for plain bhujia and 8.3 per cent for aloo bhujia. Quite in contrast, the average protein in moong dal is 22.4 per cent. So Moong Dal is a better source of protein in comparison to plain and aloo bhujia.

KeyFindings

• EnergyvaluewashighestinBikano(496.57kcalper 100 grams) and lowest in Haldiram’s (442.6 kcal per 100 grams).

• Eating100 gramsofHaldiram’sMoongDal by aman engaged in sedentary work means 19.1 per cent of his daily requirement of energy has been met.

• ProteinwashighestinMastiOye(26percent)andlowest in Tasty Treat (20 per cent). Eating 100 grams of Masti Oye by a man means 43.3 per cent of his daily requirement of protein has been met.

Moong Dal

22 •


Per-Day Recommended Dietary Allowance(RDA)forIndians

This is as per the manual of Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2011, prepared by National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad. RDA refers to the average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all healthy people.

Nutritional labelling of packaged food products refers to the disclosure of the main nutrients, such as energy, fat, protein, carbohydrate, sugar and salt content, on the label. As per India’s Food Safety and Standards (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011, mandatory nutritional information or nutritional facts per 100 grams or 100 millilitres or per serving of the product shall be given on the label. Such information shall contain the following:

(a) energy value in kilocalories (kcal)

(b) the amounts of protein, carbohydrate (specify quantity of sugar) and fat in gram (g) or ml

(c) the amount of any other nutrient for which a nutrition or health claim is made

Note that declaration of salt/sodium is not mandatory. This is despite the recommendation of Codex Alimentarius Commission – a joint intergovernmental body of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) with over 185 member states – for declaring sodium/salt.

Traffic Light Labelling

In year 2007, Food Standards Agency (FSA) of the United Kingdom developed traffic light labelling guidelines with these objectives:

• to allow consumers to correctly identifyhealthier food products

• to assist consumers to make comparisonsbetween products easily

• to allow consumers to make thesecomparisons at a glance

The traffic light labelling system uses three colours – green, amber and red – to show at a glance if a particular food has low, medium or high amounts of fat, sugar and salt. Foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt are linked with obesity and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and high blood pressure. As yet, the UK labelling system is not followed in India.

WHO (World Health Organization) Guidelines on Dietary Salt

Adults should consume less than 2 grams of sodium, or 5 grams of salt, per day, according to guidelines issued by the WHO. The main source of sodium in our diet is salt, although it can also come from sodium glutamate, used as a condiment in many parts of the world. A person with elevated sodium levels could be at risk of raised blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.


Moong Dal

Ingredient Green(lowcontent)

Amber(mediumcontent)

Red(highcontent)

Fat less than or equal to 3 gm between 3 gm and 17.5 gm more than 17.5 gm

Sugar less than or equal to 5 gm between 5 gm and 22.5 gm more than 22.5 gm

Salt less than or equal to 0.3 gm between 0.3 gm and 1.5 gm more than 1.5 gm

Results can be interpreted as follows:Green:eatoften(desirable);amber:eatoccasionally(neutral);red:eatsparingly(undesirable)

NM: Not mentioned*Converted by multiplying sodium with 2.54

SlNo.

Brand Fat Sugar Salt

In100gm(gm)

TrafficLight In100gm(gm)

TrafficLight In100gm(gm)

TrafficLight

1 Bikano 22.5 Red 0.0 Green 1.25 Amber

2 Haldiram’s 15.4 Amber 2.2 Green NM -

3 Kaleva 22.0 Red 0.0 Green NM -

4 Kurkure 23.0 Red 2.6 Green 1.10* Amber

5 Masti Oye 23.0 Red 0.0 Green NM -

6 Parle 21.0 Red 0.0 Green NM -

7 Patanjali 21.2 Red 0.0 Green 1.50* Amber

8 Tasty Treat 30.0 Red NM - NM -

TrafficLightRatingofMoongDal

This is how the criteria for foods (per 100 grams) are set out in the traffic light labelling system:

24 •


Key Findings

• Traffic light for fat is amber in only Haldiram’s – this means one may consume it occasionally. For all other brands, it is red – this means eat these sparingly (undesirable).

• In our study on bhujia in the Decoding Food Labels series published in February 2017, covering 7 brands of plain bhujia and 6 of aloo bhujia, the average fat amount was found to be 45.1 per cent for plain bhujia and 43.6 per cent for aloo bhujia. The average fat amount in moong dal is 22.3 per cent, which is less by about half as compared to both plain and aloo bhujia.

• Haldiram’s has lowest fat (15.4 per cent) and Tasty Treat has the highest (30 per cent).

• Tasty Treat has not declared sugar percentage on the label – this is a legal violation. In all other brands traffic light for sugar is green – this translates into ‘desirable’ so far as sugar is concerned.

• While declaration of sodium/salt on food products label is not mandatory as per Indian law, it has been declared by Bikano, Kurkure and Patanjali. This is a good, consumer-friendly practice on the part of these brands. Traffic light for sodium/salt is amber in these three brands, which means one may consume these occasionally.

• Consuming 100 grams of Bikano Moong Dal means 25 per cent (one-fourth) of one’s daily requirement of salt has been met.

Unit Price

The unit price gives a fair idea about the cheapest and costliest brands.

SlNo. Brand MaximumRetailPrice(MRP)(Rs)

DeclaredNetWeight(gm)

UnitPrice(priceper100gm)(Rs)

1 Bikano 50.00 200 25.00

2 Haldiram’s 10.00 40 25.00

3 Kaleva 59.00 140 42.14

4 Kurkure 35.00 140 25.00

5 Masti Oye 40.00 150 26.67

6 Parle 20.00 80(64+16extra) 25.00

7 Patanjali 10.00 40 25.00

8 Tasty Treat 36.00 150 24.00

Key Finding• As per unit price, Tasty Treat is the cheapest brand. The costliest brand is Kaleva.

In our study on bhujia in the Decoding Food Labels series published in February 2017, covering 7 brands of plain bhujia and 6 of aloo bhujia, the average fat amount was found to be 45.1 per cent for plain bhujia and 43.6 per cent for aloo bhujia. The average fat amount in moong dal is 22.3 per cent, which is less by about half as compared to both plain and aloo bhujia.

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A Magazine on Consumer Awareness


Whether it’s adulterated olive oil, ash in pepper, chalk in flour, or diluted coffee beans, food fraud and adulteration are increasingly a reality of our lives. In fact, commonly consumed food items such as dal, rice, spices, oil, butter and ghee are often targeted by fraudsters. Consumption of such food items over a long term can have serious implications on one’s health. Don’t lose heart, though. there are ways to sift through the fake and the adulterated, and find the authentic foods, provided you are equipped with the basic information and know your to-dos. the following write-up will shed light on aspects related to this subject and while at it, give you some handy tips to help you identify the fake stuff.

Food Fraud and AdulterationDon’t be cheated by these malpractices

Food Fraud

No specific definition of food fraud has been set by the Food and Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). As per the National Center for Food Protection and Defense, a US research organisation, food fraud is ‘intended substitution, addition,

tampering, or misrepresentation of food, food ingredients, or food packaging; or false or misleading statements made about a product, for economic gain.’

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines another term associated with food fraudulence – that is, economically motivated adulteration. It is

Food & Stuff

28 •

Food & Stuff

defined as the ‘fraudulent, intentional substitution or addition of a substance in a product for the purpose of increasing the apparent value of the product or reducing the cost of its production, i.e., for economic gain.’

Food Adulteration

Food adulteration is not classified as ‘food fraud’. The FDA in its Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act states that ‘adulteration’ is different from food fraud. FSSAI clearly defines food adulteration as ‘the addition or subtraction of any substance to or from food, so that the natural composition and quality of food substance is affected.’

Food adulteration may be done purposefully to alter the volume, texture, taste or stability to the items. It may also be the result of mishandling by food handlers during the manufacture or distribution of the food.

Most Common Food Adulteration

The most commonly adulterated foods include milk and milk products, atta (wheat flour), dal (pulses), oils (all cooking oils such as mustard oil and olive oil), ghee, cereals, spices, pulses, coffee, honey, etc. The table here highlights dangerous adulterants found commonly in food stuff.

FoodArticle Adulterant HarmfulEffectsBengal gram dal and toor dal Kesari dal Lathyrism cancerTea Used tea leaves processed and coloured Liver disorderCoffee powder Tamarind seed, date seed powder DiarrhoeaMilk Unhygienic water and starch Stomach disorderWheat and other food grains (bajra)

Ergot (a fungus containing poisonous substance)

Poisonous to health

Sugar Chalk powder Stomach disorderBlack powder Papaya seeds and light berries Stomach, liver problemsMustard powder Argemone seeds Epidemic dropsy and glaucoma

Edible oils

Argemone oilLoss of eyesight, heart diseases, tumour

Mineral oilDamage to liver, carcinogenic effects

Karanja oil Heart problems, liver damageCastor oil Stomach problem

AsafoetidaForeign resins like galbanum, colophony resin

Dysentery

Turmeric powder Yellow aniline dyes Carcinogenic Tapioca starch Stomach disorderChilli powder Brick powder, sawdust Stomach problems Artificial colours Cancer

Sweets, juices, jamNon-permitted coal tar dye (metanil yellow)

Metanil yellow is toxic and carcinogenic

Jaggery Washing soda, chalk powder Vomiting, diarrhoeaPulses (green peas and dal) Coal tar dye Stomach pain, ulcerSupari Colour and saccharin CancerHoney Molasses sugar (sugar plus water) Stomach disorderCarbonated water beverages Aluminium leaves Stomach disorder

ClovesCloves from which volatile oil has been extracted

Economic benefits

Source: Adulteration in Food Stuff and Its Harmful Effects, Greater Chennai Corporation


Harmful chemical items are known to be added to fruits and vegetable to enhance their appearance, taste and production.

CommonAdulterantsUsedinFruitsandVegetables

Wax (paraffin) – petroleum-derived wax For the shiny appearance of fruits

Oxytocin Induces growth of watermelon, brinjal, gourd and cucumber

Colours (which are not permitted – such as metallic lead and malachite green)

To enhance the appearance of fruits and vegetables

Saccharin Induces sweetness in fruits such as muskmelons and watermelons

Calcium carbide and copper sulphate For ripening of fruits

Beyond Food Fraudulence and Adulteration

At times, ingredients in the food items are mentioned in a tricky manner. They are mentioned as ‘less popular names’. As per Indian food laws, this is not classified as adulteration. However, by being aware about such practices, consumers can make informed food choices. For example: most of the chocolate bars sold in India do not have cocoa, a primary ingredient needed for making chocolates. They are in fact made with hydrogenated vegetable oils. Many coffee brands in India add chicory leaves to the coffee. This is done to reduce the price, coffee being an expensive commodity. Addition of chicory in coffee is legally

allowed and is known to have no serious adverse effects on health, although some people may be allergic to it. Its presence is clearly mentioned on the coffee pack and consumers must make an informed food choice. Many ice-cream brands in India are frozen desserts – that is, they are not made from milk but from vegetable fats. This is done to reduce the production cost.

Ways to Detect Common Food Adulterants

The FSSAI has issued a document – titled DART, which stands for ‘detect adulteration with rapid test’ – summarising easy and simple ways via which consumers can detect food adulteration.

Adulteration of Fruits and Vegetables

Food Fraud and Adulteration

30 •

Adulteration HowtoDetect

Any other oil in coconut oil

• Takethecoconutoilinatransparentglass.

• Refrigerateitfor30minutes(donotputitinthefreezer)

• Refrigerationwillturnthecoconutoilintoitssolidstate.Therewillbeaseparateliquid layer on the top if the coconut oil is adulterated.

Sugar in honey • Takeatransparentglassofwater.

• Addhoneytoit.

• Ifthehoneyispure,itwillnotbedissolvedinthewaterbutwillsettledownatthebottom of the glass till it is stirred.

Ergot (fungus) in grains

• Preparea20percentiodisedsaltsolution(add20gor4teaspoonsofiodisedsaltin100 ml of water].

• Putsomegrainsintheglass.

• Ifthegrainssettleatthebottomoftheglass,theyarenotadulterated.

• Grainswithergotwillfloatinwaterandwillbepurpleincolor.

Resin in asafoetida

• Putsomeasafoetidainastainlesssteelspoon.

• Placeitnearacandleflame.

• Pureasafoetidawillburnascamphorwhiletheadulteratedonewon’tproduceflames.

Papaya seeds in black pepper

• Takeatransparentglassofwater.

• Puttheblackpepperinthewater.

• Theblackpepperwillsettledownatthebottomoftheglasswhilethepapayaseedswill float in water.

Iron fillings in tea leaves

• Putsometealeavesonapaper.

• Moveamagnetthroughthetealeaves.

• Ifthetealeavesareattractedtothemagnet,itmeanstheyareadulteratedwithironfillings.

Food & Stuff


Report Food Adulteration to FSSAI

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken the initiative to encourage more complaints from consumers. Now, if a food purchased by a person is established as adulterated, the cost of getting it tested is reimbursed by the FSSAI. So, if someone gets suspicious about any food product and gets it tested at FSSAI-accredited laboratories, the cost of the lab test will be reimbursed. The test process costs about Rs 2,000–Rs 5,000 per food item.

– Compiled by Richa Pande

Food Fraud and Adulteration

32 •

Microwave ovens are all about convenience. Whether you want to warm leftovers, make soup, tea or coffee, make instant snacks like popcorn, or cook some kebabs or paneer tikka, no other appliance makes it as easy as a microwave. It fits into our rushed lives like a glove, doesn’t it? Choosing one can be super easy since the market is flooded with some of the finest microwave oven brands, both national and international. these brands are designed keeping in mind the requirements of consumers and are equipped with the latest user-friendly technology and smart features. With all these options, though, choice can also become all the more difficult. Which type of microwave oven works best for my home and what is the best size and capacity for my needs? Do I need so many features in my microwave oven? the following report is an attempt to help our readers tackle this very confusion so that the buying process becomes hassle-free. Also featured here is a comparative study on the most-selling brands and models of convection microwave ovens.

Microwave ovensserves you right

Food & StuffProduct Survey


Which Type?

To find the microwave most suitable for you, consider the types available and their capacity, before deciding on additional features. Three types of microwave ovens are available in the market.

Solo microwave ovens

Solo microwave ovens are entry-level models for simple/limited cooking. Best fit: for reheat, simple cooking.

Grill microwave ovens

These are provided with additional grilling accessories. They are suitable for reheating, cooking and grilling.

Convection microwave ovens

Convection microwave ovens use a fan and a heating element to create airflow patterns inside the microwave oven. These are best for reheating, cooking, grilling and baking.

What Size/Capacity?

The size that is best suited for you will depend on the number of family members and how often you are likely to use the microwave oven. In India, the microwave oven is used more to warm the food than to cook. In general, up to 20 litres is sufficient for a family of 2 to 3 persons; 21 litres–30 litres for a medium-sized family; and above 31 litres for a large family or large cooking.

What Is the Usable Cavity Volume?

same that we measure, because a substantial part of this volume is not really usable. For consumers, the maximum usable capacity is the longest cylindrical utensil that can rotate inside the oven, if we deactivated the turntable. None of the brands we checked declare their usable cavity volumes. The so-called rated volume also does not match with the complete cavity volume, which is some 35 to 45 per cent less than the rated volume. Therefore, the useful volume is that volume where the turntable rotates in the cavity. Larger the turntable, better it is for even cooking.

It may be noted that usable cavity area may be quite less than the rated capacity claimed.

Features to Consider while Buying

Apart from regular features like auto defrost, multistage cooking and cooking-menu buttons, check out the following before making your choice.

Child safety lock: This will prevent children from operating the microwave oven accidentally.

Power rating: Check out the power rating. Microwave ovens come in the range of 600 to 1,500 watts. More watts mean faster cooking as it generates higher heat and in less time.

Cooking sensors: These humidity-sensing sensors determine the humidity in the food item you are about to cook in the microwave and accordingly determine the cooking time. You should look for this feature while buying your microwave oven as it will eliminate the guesswork from your cooking and avoid overcooking of food.

Operatingcontrolpanel: Look for an oven that has a control panel that is easy to operate. Having a mechanical operating knob will be very easy to handle and it’s sturdy. However, it does not mean those flashy touch panels are bad. If they have enough information and if it’s easy to determine which button is for what, then you should be okay. And those touch

Generally, manufacturers mention the volume (in litres) of the microwave, including all the internal space in the inside cavity. But this volume isn’t the

Microwave Ovens

34 •

panels look cool too.

Multistagecooking: This feature is very good for Indian cooking style as our food is cooked at various temperatures depending on the amount of time. Some food items need to be cooked at high temperature initially and then moved to low temperature after a certain time. Multistage cooking will help you to automate this process by setting time intervals and temperatures to be used while cooking the food.

Handy shortcut keys: Having shortcut keys on your microwave oven will make your life easier as common food items like popcorn and noodles require a fixed cooking time. You can cook these items by just pressing the keys from the auto-cook menu.

Autodefrosts:Just enter the weight of the food item and the oven will determine how much time is needed to defrost it. A nice feature for those ready-to-eat frozen-food lovers.

Take These Safety Precautions

1. Carefully read the operating manual before starting the microwave oven.

2. Look for microwave-specific cookware. Never use metal or metal-trimmed utensils in your microwave oven.

3. Do not operate the oven when empty (except in prep-heat mode). It is best to leave a glass of water in the oven when not in use. The water will safely absorb all microwave energy if the oven is accidentally started.

4. Do not operate the oven with a kitchen towel or a napkin; always use gloves when removing the dish from oven.

5. Do not rinse the turntable by placing it in water just after cooking.

6. Do not cook eggs in their shell as these will explode.

7. Do not attempt deep fat frying in your oven.

8. Remove the polythene/plastic wrapping from food before defrosting.

9. If smoke is observed, switch off or disconnect the oven from the power supply and keep the oven door closed.

10. Liquid or other foods must not be heated in sealed containers.

11. Do not cover the ventilation slots.

12. Avoid aluminium foil for cooking wrapped food.

13. Do not try to repair the oven by yourself. Always take it to an authorised service centre.



The Questions We All Ask

How does a microwave oven cook food?

Microwave oven is an electronic appliance generally made up of various sub-assemblies and contains a microwave generator called magnetron. This magnetron, when powered, generates high-powered electromagnetic waves. Inside walls of the microwave oven cavity are reflective, which reflect these radio waves and pass through the food item kept inside a microwave oven on a turntable. Due to these microwaves, molecules inside the food item vibrate, and since vibration generates heat, this heat cooks the food.

Are microwave ovens safe?

Microwave ovens are considered safe if used properly. The food is just as nutritious (more so in some cases) as with any other cooking method. The electromagnetic waves stop as soon as you cut off the power and open the door; they don’t remain in the food and make it radioactive.

Can a microwave oven destroy the proteins/nutrients in food?

No, cooking food in a microwave oven does not destroy the nutrients. In fact, nutrients get destroyed due to overcooking or cooking at a very high temperature using any form of cooking like boiling.

Comparisonat aGlance:OfConvection-TypeMicrowaveOvens

For our survey, we shortlisted the regular-selling brands of convection-type microwave ovens.

During convection cooking, hot air is circulated throughout the oven cavity to brown and make crisp foods quickly and evenly. The oven can be programmed for different cooking temperatures.

Proprietary Food and the New LawMicrowave Ovens

36 •

Brand Model Capacity(litre) WarrantyonProductandonMagnetronCavity(year)

PowerinMicrowave/Convection/Grill

(watts)

Cavitymaterial DisplayType

MicrowaveOutput(watts)

SensorMalfunctionProtection

OverheatingProtection

ChildSafetyLock

Price(Rs)

IFB 30SCA 30 1 3

1,400 2,200 1,250

Stainless steel LED 900 Yes Yes Yes 12,275

Onida MO23CWS11S 23 3 8001,2001,200

Stainless steel Digital 800 No Yes 11,999

Godrej GME 30CR1BIM 30 1 3

1,4502,5001,100

Stainless steel Digital 900 Yes 12,999

IFB 30SRC2 30 1 3

1,4002,2001,250

Stainless steel Digital 900 Yes Yes Yes 18,000

IFB 20BC4 20 1 3

1,2002,5001,200


LG MC2883SMP 28 1 1,9501,9501,200


Godrej GME 20CM1 MJZ 20 1 3

1,2002,2001,200

Stainless steel Digital 800 Yes Yes 12,110

IFB 23SC3 23 1 3

1,4001,850950


LG MC2844SPB 28 1 1,9501,2001,950

Stainless steel 900 Yes 12,599

IFB 25SC4 25 1 3

1,4001,9501,000


Whirlpool GT-288 25 2 700800

1,000

Stainless steel LED/digital yes 12,499

Samsung MC28H5025VS 28 1 1,5002,1002,900

Neo Stainless steel LED 900 Yes 15,890

Godrej GME 720 CP1 PM 20 13

1,2001,200

Stainless steel LED 800 Yes 12,000

IFB 30SC4 30 1 3

1,4001,2502,200



Source: Company websites/brochures/manuals, commercial websites, and retailers


Brand Model Capacity(litre) WarrantyonProductandonMagnetronCavity(year)

PowerinMicrowave/Convection/Grill

(watts)

Cavitymaterial DisplayType

MicrowaveOutput(watts)

SensorMalfunctionProtection

OverheatingProtection

ChildSafetyLock

Price(Rs)

IFB 30SCA 30 1 3

1,400 2,200 1,250


Onida MO23CWS11S 23 3 8001,2001,200


Godrej GME 30CR1BIM 30 1 3

1,4502,5001,100

Stainless steel Digital 900 Yes 12,999

IFB 30SRC2 30 1 3

1,4002,2001,250


IFB 20BC4 20 1 3

1,2002,5001,200


LG MC2883SMP 28 1 1,9501,9501,200


Godrej GME 20CM1 MJZ 20 1 3

1,2002,2001,200

Stainless steel Digital 800 Yes Yes 12,110

IFB 23SC3 23 1 3

1,4001,850950


LG MC2844SPB 28 1 1,9501,2001,950

Stainless steel 900 Yes 12,599

IFB 25SC4 25 1 3

1,4001,9501,000


Whirlpool GT-288 25 2 700800

1,000

Stainless steel LED/digital yes 12,499

Samsung MC28H5025VS 28 1 1,5002,1002,900

Neo Stainless steel LED 900 Yes 15,890

Godrej GME 720 CP1 PM 20 13

1,2001,200

Stainless steel LED 800 Yes 12,000

IFB 30SC4 30 1 3

1,4001,2502,200


Proprietary Food and the New LawMicrowave Ovens

38 •

BFSI

“A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”

– Lao tzu

this study is focused on overseas travel insurance plans for senior citizens past the age of 70. As a senior citizen travelling overseas, you may already have some health issues – and if you don’t, you may anyway want to cushion yourself against possible illness (the food or the weather may not suit you), injuries, accidents and other unsavoury eventualities or unexpected losses. one way to do that is getting yourself travel insurance. once you start looking for overseas travel insurance options, you will find that there are actually very few on offer. so, here we are, trying to find out what these companies selling overseas travel insurance offer in terms of benefits. A comparative study of six plans along important variables will also prepare you about what to expect in terms of services and charges.

– subas tiwari & Gopal Ravi Kumar

overseas travel Insurance Plans If you are over 70 and ready to sail (or fly)


Overseas Travel Insurance Plans

This study does not cover travel to the United States and Canada because insurance companies charge higher rates of premium for standard coverage (some companies add Switzerland too) when it

comes to these countries. The reason? The healthcare costs in these countries are steep compared to other countries.

Inclusions

In general, what are the inclusions in an overseas travel insurance policy?

The following aspects are covered (list is illustrative, not exhaustive):

• Personalaccident

• Lossofchecked-inbaggage

• Delayinchecked-inbaggage

• Lossofpassport

• Personalliability

• Hijackallowance

• Emergencycash

• Tripcancellation/delay(interruption)

• Missedflightconnection

Expect These Exclusions

In general, one can expect that no claims will be entertained on the following (illustrative, not exhaustive):

• Pre-existing/illness/disease/injury/condition

• Travellingagainstdoctor’sadvice

• Self-inflictedinjury,attemptedsuicide

• Taking part in naval, military or air forceoperations

• HIV/HIV-relatedillnessincludingAIDS

• Pregnancy/Childbirth

• Sexualmisconduct/communicabledisease

• Travel to restricted countries as pergovernment policy (travel advisory)

• Travellingformedicaltreatmentadmission

• Indulginginintoxicatingdrugs/alcohol

• Travelwithcriminalintent

• Bankruptcy/Liquidation

• Adventuresportslikemountaineering,bungeejumping and deep-sea diving

Options Are Limited

After a thorough search of various insurance companies’ websites, we could only short-list six that offered this kind of policy for senior citizens above the age of 70. Clearly, these companies find it risky to extend insurance coverage to them in view of the average age and health profile. In fact, no public sector insurance company offers this policy to this age group. Those who have labelled their policy as overseas insurance actually offer only health insurance coverage/benefits.

Confirm that your travel insurance plan covers the countries where you will be travelling.

Check which age bracket you fall under for certain plans as age is a significant factor in determining premiums.

Check which age bracket you fall under for certain plans as age is a significant factor in determining premiums.

Takeaways for Consumers

a) Buy a policy that offers emergency cash/hospital daily allowance in case of sudden hospitalisation.

b) Opt for a policy that has dental treatment as one of the inclusions.

c) Make sure it gives you burglary cover at home. If you are travelling for a long time and there is no one back home, it's better to buy a plan that offers coverage for burglary and protection of building.

40 •

CV RECOMMENDATIONS

Best Buy

ICICI Lombard(International Travel insurance – Senior

Citizen Plan)

Good Buy

Religare(International Travel Explore – Gold)

Fair Buy

Bajaj Allianz(Travel Elite)

Notes:a) Information given here has been sourced from websites, brochures and customer care.b) Sum assured and premium are dependent on individual covers opted for, period of insurance, and risk-bearing criteria.c) We have selected for this study only those companies that offer overseas travel insurance for senior citizens

OVERSEASTRAVELINSURANCEPLANSFORSENIORCITIzENS:ACOMPARATIVECHART

For the comparative assessment, we chose six plans based on consumer feedback and product structure. The parameters on which we have compared them include maximum entry age, personal liability, loss of checked-

in baggage, loss of passport, maximum hijack allowance, missed flight connection, trip delay, trip cancellation or interruption, delay of checked-in baggage, personal accident, emergency cash, and maximum duration of trip. We gave the highest weightage (15 points) to consumer feedback, which helped in determining product quality as well as the most important and beneficial variables. These variables have a direct bearing on the product structure.

To know what kind of travel insurance you will need, you should review your current health conditions, activities you will be participating in during travel, and length of travel.

CVWeightage(Criteria)

Points–100Variables

ICICILombard(InternationalTravel

Insurance–SeniorCitizen)

Religare(InternationalTravelExplore–Gold)

BajajAllianz(TravelElite)

TataAIG(TravelGuardSeniorPlan)

CholaMS(OverseasTravelProtection–SeniorCitizen)

ApolloMunich(EasyTravel–SeniorCitizen-Bronze)

Minimum Entry Age (years) 71 Any 71 71 71 71

7 Maximum Entry Age (years) 85 (4) Any (7) 75 (2) Any (7) 80 (2) 80 (2)

5 Maximum Duration of Trip (Days) 360 (5) 365 (5) 180 (2) 180 (2) 180 (2) 180 (2)

10 Loss of Checked-in Baggage (USD) 500 (10) 100 (4) 500 (10) 500 (10) 250 (7) Nil (1)

10 Loss of Passport (USD) 300 (10) 300 (10) 250 (7) 250 (7) 150 (4) 200 (7)

5 Delay of Checked-in Baggage (USD) 100 (5) 100 (5) 100 (5) 50 (3) 100 (5) Nil (1)

10 Personal Liability (USD) 100,000 (10) 100,000 (10) 100,000 (10) 100,000 (10) Nil (1) 25,000 (5)

5 Personal Accident (USD) 2,500 (2) 15,000 (5) 10,000 (3) 10,000 (3) Nil (1) 10,000 (3)

10 Hijack Allowance Maximum (USD) 875 (10) NS (0) 300 (5) Nil (1) 700 (10) 250 (5)

5 Emergency Cash (USD) 1,000 (5) NS (0) 500 (3) 500 (3) Nil (1) Nil (1)

5Trip Cancellation and Interruption (USD)

500 (3) 1,000 (5) 500 (3) Nil (1) Nil (1) Nil (1)

8 Missed Flight Connection (USD) 500 (8) NS (0) NS (0) Nil (1) Nil (1) Nil (1)

5 Trip Delay (USD) 500 (5) 500 (5) 120 (3) Nil (1) Nil (1) Nil (1)

15 Consumer Feedback 11 9 9 10 4 9

Total 88 65 62 59 40 39

BFSI


(above 70 years) on a single trip for sum insured of USD 50,000.d) Overseas travel for this study excludes visits to the USA and Canada.e) NS: not specifiedf) USD: US dollars

OVERSEASTRAVELINSURANCEPLANSFORSENIORCITIzENS:ACOMPARATIVECHART

CVWeightage(Criteria)

Points–100Variables

ICICILombard(InternationalTravel

Insurance–SeniorCitizen)

Religare(InternationalTravelExplore–Gold)

BajajAllianz(TravelElite)

TataAIG(TravelGuardSeniorPlan)

CholaMS(OverseasTravelProtection–SeniorCitizen)

ApolloMunich(EasyTravel–SeniorCitizen-Bronze)

Minimum Entry Age (years) 71 Any 71 71 71 71

7 Maximum Entry Age (years) 85 (4) Any (7) 75 (2) Any (7) 80 (2) 80 (2)

5 Maximum Duration of Trip (Days) 360 (5) 365 (5) 180 (2) 180 (2) 180 (2) 180 (2)

10 Loss of Checked-in Baggage (USD) 500 (10) 100 (4) 500 (10) 500 (10) 250 (7) Nil (1)

10 Loss of Passport (USD) 300 (10) 300 (10) 250 (7) 250 (7) 150 (4) 200 (7)

5 Delay of Checked-in Baggage (USD) 100 (5) 100 (5) 100 (5) 50 (3) 100 (5) Nil (1)

10 Personal Liability (USD) 100,000 (10) 100,000 (10) 100,000 (10) 100,000 (10) Nil (1) 25,000 (5)

5 Personal Accident (USD) 2,500 (2) 15,000 (5) 10,000 (3) 10,000 (3) Nil (1) 10,000 (3)

10 Hijack Allowance Maximum (USD) 875 (10) NS (0) 300 (5) Nil (1) 700 (10) 250 (5)

5 Emergency Cash (USD) 1,000 (5) NS (0) 500 (3) 500 (3) Nil (1) Nil (1)

5Trip Cancellation and Interruption (USD)

500 (3) 1,000 (5) 500 (3) Nil (1) Nil (1) Nil (1)

8 Missed Flight Connection (USD) 500 (8) NS (0) NS (0) Nil (1) Nil (1) Nil (1)

5 Trip Delay (USD) 500 (5) 500 (5) 120 (3) Nil (1) Nil (1) Nil (1)

15 Consumer Feedback 11 9 9 10 4 9

Total 88 65 62 59 40 39

Overseas Travel Insurance Plans

42 •

BFSI

About Things Travellers Should Know

Pre-existing medical conditionsOlder travellers are more likely to have a pre-existing medical condition (such as hypertension) – and some will find that they are denied cover because of that condition. But there are insurers who will offer cover specifically for older travellers with current or past health issues. With providers that offer holiday insurance for those who are over 70, the screening process will often be more personal and tailored to the individual’s own particular medical history.

Holiday insurance optionsIf you plan to travel for a longer period, or to several different destinations in one trip (as with many travellers aged over 70), an annual travel policy may be the way to go. This can work out cheaper than buying separate single-trip policies. Equally, if you’re not planning on travelling beyond, say, Europe, look for a policy offering annual cover for just Europe, as this can be much cheaper than a worldwide policy.

Check that your policy includes unexpected event cover. In recent years, there have been several incidents that impacted on holidaymakers, including air strikes, civil unrest and the infamous Icelandic ash cloud in 2010, which caused huge disruption. Taking out additional cover to protect against such unexpected issues might be advisable, though it’s likely to incur extra cost.

Whatever you do, steer clear of the insurance policy being sold by your tour operator, as it will almost certainly cost you more than one bought independently.

Information is powerTake the time to research and compare quotes online. Costs for holiday insurance for those over 70 can vary widely. Make sure you read the small print, so you know exactly what you are covered for.

If you find you are turned away by a general insurer for being the wrong age, consider quotes from insurers who specialise in older travellers, as they will base quotes on an individual’s health and claims history.

Before you go away on your travels, read up on your destination in guidebooks and online. Also, do a bit of research into the health risks in the country you’re visiting. Check if you need any vaccinations or other medication, such as malaria tablets.

Dos and Don’ts• Keepyourlegsmovingduringaflighttoavoiddeepveinthrombosis;drinkplentyofwater;andtakea

walk at least every couple of hours.

• Atyourdestination,don’tdrinktapwateruntilyou’vecheckedit’ssafetodoso.

• Makesureyourpassport is stillvalid for sixmonthsafteryour returndate,andthatyou’vegot thenecessary visas required for any of the destinations you plan to visit.

• Alertyourbanktowhereyouaretravelling,andtakeanoteoftheemergencynumberforyourbankand numbers of all cards and travellers’ cheques.

• Leavecontactnumbersandanoutlineofyouritinerarywithfriendsorfamilyathome,andstayintouchover phone or email.

• Keepaphotocopyofyourpassport,visaandairline/hotelticketbooking/confirmationineachcheck-inand cabin baggage.

• Donotkeep theoriginalpassport,visacopy(if issued separately),and foreigncurrencyandcredit/debit cards together (do not keep all eggs in one basket!) – in the event of losing one, you may lose everything.

Courtesy: www.moneysupermarket.com

North ZoNe

44 •

Legal Matters

It is common sense. no sane individual would want two different sets of jury in two different courts to deliberate on the same case at the same time. Moreover, if one court is a higher civil authority and the other focuses solely on consumer issues, the latter cannot deliberate on a case that is pending with the former. However, some people, either in desperation for quicker relief or with some malicious intent, have tried going the wrong way – the legally unacceptable way – of filing a complaint with a consumer forum despite the same case being pending/heard in the civil court. In this article, we share some cases and the judgements thereof to clear all doubts that one may have with regard to this subject.

Dr Prem Lata, Consumer AwakeningFormer Member, CDRF-Delhi

Cases Pending at Civil Court Consumer forums cannot entertain these

“Going through a long legal battle is not what you sign up for as a fighter.”~ Andre Ward


Cases Pending at Civil Court

Jury’s Verdict

“Consumer complaint filed by complainants before district forum are not maintainable when civil suit for same relief has already been filed before civil court prior to filing of consumer complaint,” Justice VB Gupta, presiding member, had said while pronouncing his verdict in the matter of Damayanti Kantilal Shah, Kantilal Ghelabhai Shah versus Rashmi Grihnirman Ltd and Others.

In 2008, a revision petition was filed before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) against the 2007 order of Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Mumbai. In this matter, a judgement was dictated by Justice KS Chaudhari, the then presiding member, and the same had been sent for approval of Dr BC Gupta, who was the member of the same forum and sent a dissenting judgement. Thereafter, the matter was placed before the president, NCDRC, under Section 20 (i) (iii) of the Consumer Protection Act for appropriate directions. The president referred the matter to Justice VB Gupta, member (3rd bench). Justice Gupta agreed with the statement of the presiding member Justice KS Chaudhari.

Case Background

The complainants had booked two flats in Thane with builder Rashmi Grihnirman Ltd. The builder executed an agreement of sale in 1999 and was supposed to give possession of the flats in 2001. However, the builder failed to keep his commitment as per the agreement and did not provide possession to the complainants and returned the paid amount instead. Alleging deficiency on the part of the builder, the complainants reached the district forum,

demanding possession of the flats as well as interest on the paid amount along with compensation for delay. The builder, on the other hand, submitted that the district forum had no territorial jurisdiction because the complainants had already filed a civil suit.

The forum heard both parties, admitted the complaint, and directed the builder to hand over possession of the respective flats along with the applicable interest, compensation and legal costs.

The builder did not oblige and filed an appeal before the State Commission of Maharashtra. The latter set aside the order of the district forum. Hence, a revision appeal reached the NCDRC, where it was thoroughly deliberated upon by the two-member bench. Justice BC Gupta maintained that although the State Commission had set aside the order of the district forum on the right grounds that the matter was already being heard in the civil court, they in the process have been left remediless by virtue of the impugned order. Consequently, the alleged act of omission or commission on the part of builder has been left without judicial scrutiny.

Justice Gupta also made a reference to Section 3 of Consumer Protection Act which provides an alternative remedy to consumers to get their rights enforced through the mechanism of consumer fora. The Supreme Court, in their judgement in Secretary, Thirumurugan Co-operative Agricultural Credit Society versus M Lalith in 2004, had taken the view that the better provisions need to be interpreted broadly, positively and purposefully to give a meaning to additional/extended jurisdiction, particularly when Section 3 seeks to provide remedy under the Act, in addition to other remedies provided under other Acts.

Earlier in 2003, in State of Karnataka versus Vishwabharathi Housing Building Co-operative Society, the apex court had held that the Consumer Protection Act supplemented and not supplanted the jurisdiction of the civil courts or other statutory authorities.

The Judges Concluded

Despite the above-mentioned arguments, Justice VB Gupta agreed with the findings of the State Commission and gave the following reasons for the same:

1. “We reiterate that when two-three authorities are available to any person to file judicial proceeding for the redressal of his grievance, propriety demands that he has to choose one and pursue the remedy to the hilt or to the logical end, but he cannot be permitted to file civil suit in the Civil Court and for the same relief file consumer complaint in the District Consumer Forum. This is nothing but a blatant misuse of provisions of Consumer Protection Act, 1986, and the Code of Civil Procedure.”

2. “The Consumer Forum is in addition to the jurisdiction of other authorities, particularly Civil Court functioning in the State of Maharashtra or for that matter all over India. But once party chooses to approach Civil Court for the same relief, he cannot be permitted to file consumer complaint pending the civil suit he has already filed for the same reliefs. Complainants Kantilal Shah and Damayanti K Shah having already approached Civil Court in the year 2002 were not permitted in law to file consumer complaints in the year 2003 for the same reliefs,

which they had claimed by filing civil suits in the Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division, Thane.”

3. “Perusal of the complaints reveals that complainants have not disclosed in their complaint that civil suit for the same relief had already been filed before Civil Court. The prayer made by the complainant in the civil suit and before the Consumer Forum is identical. It is clearly borne out from record that the complainants/petitioners filed civil suits before a Civil Court apprehending that the opposing parties were contemplating selling the flats in question to a third party. The Civil Court granted an ad-interim injunction in favour of the petitioners/complainants vide their order dated 24.5.2002 itself, which made consumers not entitled to opt for any other remedy available in law. Also, as District Forum allowed complaints in September 2003 and after institution of appeals by opposite party, complainant withdrew civil suits on 29.3.2004 which was filed before institution of complaint before District Forum. Hence it can be concluded that complainants had not gone to the district forum with clean hands.”

More References

In the matter of Special Machines, Karnal, versus Punjab National Bank in 1919, the National Commission had held that “when the subject matter of a complaint was sub-judice before a Civil Court, the Commission could not interfere.” A similar view had been presented in 1995 by the Tamil Nadu State Commission in Lilly Chaoyin versus Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation.

Legal Matters

rNI No: 72366/99 Postal regd. No. DL/(S)-01/3262/2018-20

Published on 5th of Every MonthPosted on 6th & 7th of Every MonthN.D.P.S.O

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