Frauds in the Sale of Livestock Products
Frauds in the sale of livestock products is very common malpractice seen in our daily lives. whether it is fake paneer or milk made with artificial powder.
Frauds in the sale of livestock products can be made by altering livestock itself or adulterate product. both is wrong and unlawful.
The description of the animal is altered in case it has been stolen or there are signs which are unsound.
Alteration of description is done in the following ways.
- Castration of entire
- Clipping of mane and tail
- Docking
- Colouring of white patches by hair dye
Bishoping
By this method animals are made to appear younger. It is done by making small holes in the table of incisors and filling them with some black substance such as marking nut. Air is also blown under the skin of supra orbital fossa of the animals. The chronic ulcers and fistulae are often covered with coloured mud. Frauds in the sale of livestock are punishable under Section 420I.P.C.
IPC Section 420 whoever cheats and thereby dishonestly induces the person deceived to deliver any property to any person, or to make, alter or destroy the whole or any part of a valuable security, or anything which is signed or sealed, and which is capable of being converted into a valuable security, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.
Simple cheating is punishable under section 417. But where there is delivery or
destruction of any property or alteration or destruction of any valuable security resulting from the act of the person deceiving, this section comes into operation.
Frauds in the Sale of Milk
The adulteration of milk is very common in India. There are various chemical tests to detect these adulterations. (eg) Addition of water to milk-detected by:
- Determination of specific gravity of milk by lactometer.
- Test for nitrate in milk: Normal milk does not contain nitrates but ordinary water does. The presence of nitrates in the milk is a sure test of adulteration of milk with water.
Frauds in Sale of Ghee
Some of the methods of adulteration of ghee are by adding vegetable oils, hydrogenated oils (sesame oil) or animal fat (Mutton or beef fat).
By adding vegetable oils
- Ghee is adulterated with vegetable oils or hydrogenated oils. Vegetable fat contains phytosteryl which is not present in ghee. Phytosteryl acetate test is carried out to prove a sample of ghee has been adulterated with vegetable oil or hydrogenated oils.
By adding hydrogenated oils
- It is compulsory to add a definite quantity of seasame oil to all vegetable ghee in India.
- Presence of seasame oil is supposedly pure ghee is a sure indication of adulteration with vegetable ghee.
- Boudouin test is used to detect presence of seasame oil in ghee.
By adding animal fats
- Ghee is adultered with mutton or beef fat.
- Adulteration of milk and milk products is punishable under I.P.C Section 272.
- Selling of unfit food or drink is punishable under Section 273 I.P.C Section 272 whoever adulterates any article or food drink, so as to make such article noxious as food or drink intending to sell such article as food or drink or knowing it to likely that the same will be sold as food or drink, shall e punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
