Increasing concern about food borne illnesses originating from food processing facilities can backfire on the industry if adequate measures are not taken to drastically improve some of the present practices. The point is not that all industry players are to be blamed for this scary situation but a significant section of food industry has least concern about the well being of the consumers who sustain them and their business. If movies and documentaries based on sting operations by a few concerned people have become popular, it only goes to show the tendency of the consumers to believe them rather than the industry. There are hundreds of "clips" circulating in the Internet graphically showing the dirty side of processing operations and one cannot blame the consumer if such visuals wean them away from processed food products, churned out by the organized industry. No matter how efficient the government inspectors are, there is no way one can ensure 100% coverage of the industry. As for private inspection system, it is tainted by its unholy alliance with the processors, tarnishing its credibility. In this context a new initiative is underway by voluntary consumer activist organizations under which "whistle blowers" are encouraged to "leak out" damning information from within the food industry for public awareness and "shaming" the culprits.
"Our Food Integrity Campaign (FIC) is officially under way. We hope you'll visit our new FIC website and join our campaign to safeguard food integrity by facilitating truth-telling. In addition to providing litigation services for employees who speak out against safety or health violations, GAP's Campaign brings their stifled concerns to the public eye as well as provides education outreach and advocacy efforts. The website profiles some of GAP's prominent food integrity whistle blowers, serves as a hub of information for would-be whistle blowers and those interested in food integrity and whistle blower issues in general. It also provides useful information on what you can do tosupport food industry whistleblowers. Along the journey that food takes from field to fork, problems arise every step of the way and we mean to expose them by fueling the voice of the voiceless. FIC believes that food industry whistle blowers are the first line of defense against food borne illness and outbreaks—the employees that actually work at the food processing facilities, either for the company or as an inspector assigned by the government. Yet they go unheard. If they get up the courage to blow the whistle at a plant they work at, these workers often face retaliation or their complaints are simply ignored. If whistle blowers feel protected (hopefully under the law as well as among the community), it will be more difficult for agribusinesses to maintain their questionable practices as more people step up to push food transparency. FIC's website spotlights whistle blowers who have spoken out against violations of food integrity acts. Some that have lost their jobs for speaking up were able to publicize their concerns with the help of GAP. Others were protected from termination because of strong evidence GAP helped release to the media".
Probably this strategy may have some chance of success in countries like the US or UK where there is still some value for honesty and self respect. But to expect the same in India may be like asking for "the moon"! With scam after scam being brought out almost every day, there is a premium for probity in public life and with the clout major industry players enjoy with the government, whistle blowing can be like committing "Harakiri" with no chance of survival for the information provider. Imagine the condition of the Indian consumer who cannot expect any help from either the heavily bureaucratized food safety agency or the legal fraternity to catch food adulterators and manufacturers of food products with sub-standard raw material and using facilities considered dangerous due to grossly inadequate sanitary and unhygienic manufacturing environment.
V.H.POTTYhttp://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com
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