As the festivals season nears, the demand for sweet products rises in India. Sweets has been considered as an ideal gifting option. India is quite famous for sweets that produces a large variety of sweet item. And the demand for sweet increases with the festival season. Sweets symbolize happiness, prosperity, and love, and are exchanged as a gesture of goodwill. They are also a key part of traditional celebrations, offering a way to share joy, welcome guests, and celebrate special occasions with loved ones. However nowadays the demand for the sweet products comes with a caution. To meet the high demand, adulteration increases which may put health at risk.
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Yesterday, I went to my relative home on the occasion of Diwali. Enroute I bought some fruits. I bought, Apple and banana to celebrate the occasion, and for the kids I had dairy milk chocolate. But I guess the relatives were not happy, as I didn't carry any sweets with me. Sensing something wrong, I explained the risk of adulteration that were on rise during the festival.
Adulteration increases during festivals primarily due to a surge in demand for food products like sweets and dairy, which creates an economic incentive for dishonest sellers to cut costs by using cheaper, harmful substitutes. To meet this high demand quickly and cheaply, some sellers compromise on quality by adding cheaper, inferior, or synthetic ingredients to increase their profit margins. There are certain common adulterants that were used by the sellers :
Starch, urea, and detergent are added to milk and products like (mawa) and ghee.
Synthetic colors and flavors, and aluminum foil instead of pure silver foil are used to make sweets appear more appealing.
Chemicals like malachite-green are used to make nuts look more vibrant, while preservatives and chemicals like sodium metabisulphite are added to increase shelf life.
Consuming these adulterated items can lead to immediate issues like food poisoning and indigestion, as well as long-term health problems affecting the liver and kidneys. To prevent from the harmful side effects of these adulterated products, some people prefer to gift dry fruits. There were many gift parks available in market, but such items comes with a price. So I prefer carrying fruits, that may help in getting good health. Fruits are better than sweets because they are packed with essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, along with fiber, which helps regulate blood sugar and promotes digestion. While fruits contain natural sugar, it is processed differently by the body than the added sugars in sweets, leading to a more stable blood sugar response and less risk of negative health effects
I always prefer fruits over sweets and I think it make much sense to enjoy festival in good mood.
In good faith - Peace!!
