Acetic acid and battery water in pickled treats sold on Kerala beaches? Most food adulteration cases in Kozhikode

Pickled treats have always been a weakness for Malayalis, who love the salty, sour, and slightly sweet flavour of brined mangoes, gooseberries, pineapple, carrots, and hog plum (ambazhanga), especially those sold on beaches. However, some eateries serve adulterated pickled treats, risking the public's health and the health of other hotels' businesses. For instance, in Kozhikode, people are familiar with most eateries and their owners, who have been running shops at the beach and nearby areas. However, some people are allegedly adding dangerous substances to the brine that could cause severe health problems, according to Manorama Online.

Last Wednesday, a child reportedly suffered burns in the mouth after he had pickled treats from an eatery at the beach. The kid, a native of Vattoli, was soon hospitalised. The health department then closed the shop and sent samples to know whether acids had been used in the brine. Two years ago, a group of students from Kasaragod, too, had suffered mouth burns after drinking the brine at a pickle shop. When a child had a spicy pickle, he drank the brine in the bottle. But the child immediately spat it out as his mouth burned. Another youngster who had the brine, too, had mouth burns. The health department of the corporation found out that acetic acid, which is quite strong, was used in the brine. 

Adulteration using acid
Most veggies or fruits would take some time to get pickled in the brine. So, acid is added to enhance the flavour quickly. When the burning incident happened two years ago, it was found that many shop owners use diluted acetic acid in the brine water. Moreover, the acid gives a stronger flavour than the regular salt water. Usually, when mangoes are brined in salt water in earthen jars, white foams are formed in the jar. However, this foam does not form when battery water or acid is used. 

Shop owners vow to obey rules
Two shop owners who refused to reveal their names say that most shops and eateries functioning in Kozhikode beach prepare the pickles by strictly adhering to the guidelines. The health department regularly conducts inspections at the eateries. These shop owners say that such complaints arise when a handful of people use acid or other dangerous substances during busy hours. 
Most cases of adulteration reported in Kozhikode
It must be noted that most food adulteration cases in 2023 – 24 were reported in Kozhikode. Among the 988 cases registered at various courts across the state, around 230 cases were registered in Kozhikode alone. 

It was found out that most food items, from cotton candies to kuzhimandi, and ingredients like chilies and coriander have been adulterated. These food items were tested for quality at the analytical lab of the Food and Health Department. Among the 1727 samples that were tested, 74 were dangerously adulterated, 8 samples lacked the stipulated quality, and 15 samples were wrongly branded.