Animal Bones Used to Make Biscuits Crunchier in Moradabad Factory: Facts

Story:

Shocking! Bakery biscuits made from Animal Bones in Moradabad factory.

Other Versions

Manufacturers using Bones as ingredient for Biscuits and Rusks.

Picture about Animal Bones Used to Make Biscuits Crunchier in Moradabad Factory — Animal Bones Used to Make Biscuits Crunchier in Moradabad Factory

Analysis:

These shocking messages doing rounds online, especially in India, warn that bakery products like Biscuits and Rusks in a factory based in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh (India) are made from Animal Bone ingredients, to make them crunchier. Unfortunately, investigations from the Food Safety Department of India did find such adultery, pending further testing.

Raid of Food Safety Department

In late December 2014, officials from Food Safety Department of India went on to raid Armoa Foods, a factory in Moradabad of Eastern Uttar Pradesh owned by one Azim Iqbal, which makes bread, biscuits and rusks. The officials were surprised to see the bones and fat of hens, cattle and other animals in a large scale that were being dried in a bad, unhygienic state. They suspected that the animal bones as powder or in other forms are used to make the biscuits more crispy, crunchy and tasty. They also believe that those adulterated biscuits were supplied in Moradabad and nearby by districts.

Following the initial investigations and unsatisfactory explanation of the factory incharge person, the Food Safety Department officials suspended the license of Armoa Foods. They collected samples of finished & semi-finished products along with other ingredients used in preparation of the rusks and biscuits and sent them to a laboratory for testing. The officials also suspect that oil extracted from the animal bones could have been used, which again, is not fit for human consumption and can lead to infections and other chronic diseases. Moreover, the factory employed child labor, and according to the labor department, 15 children were rescued from the premises. Shown in the video is a Hindi news report on the disturbing find, just around 300 km from capital Lucknow.

More Concerns

The Food Safety Department raided the biscuit factory in Moradabad just days after the Central Government of India announced setting up of a task force to recommend changes in the Food Safety and Standards Act, the legislation that regulates food quality in the country. Lawmakers in the country have also raised the issue in Parliament earlier and termed the food adulteration as a “slow poison”. In Uttar Pradesh, several bakeries, sweet shops and restaurants were raided and four big bakeries in Lucknow were served notices due to adulteration in dairy products, cakes and pastries. The officials also warned that such adulteration of food products occurs more during festive seasons. So as a general advice, watch what you eat and where it comes from.