Is food sold in Nepal safe ?

Despite food acts and regulations put in place to guarantee quality foods make it to the market, selling of substandard and expired foods is widely prevalent in Nepal. Popular food corporations both national and multinational have been found to be releasing low quality foods in the Nepalese market, resulting in lack of nutrition among Nepali people.

During a brief market survey conducted by NepalNews, grocery shop owners in Kathmandu valley said they do not sell expired food items, and throw them away even though they are financially at loss due to this. However, some customers have had experiences of expired food items sold to them, while others were unaware of the fact that checking the expiry dates of edible food items is necessary. Most of the time, customers are not able to see or smell what’s inside the food package before buying edible items. Therefore the only option left is to throw away the food if found susceptible.

On the matter, nutritionist Pradiumna Dahal says, “The effects of consuming expired food items depends on the type of food consumed.”

“Consuming non - quality assured foods causes various influences in the human body; the intensity of adverse effects observed depends on the type of food consumed. Depending on the substance’s impact level they are divided into categories of less harmful and more harm causing foods,” he adds.

In the existing scenario, the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) has filed many cases against popular food corporations of Nepal over the years due to their persistent selling of sub standard food items.

DFTQC is one of the three departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of the Government of Nepal (GoN) that is responsible for food quality control in the country. According to the latest report published by DFTQC, 10.0% of the food samples taken from market inspection which assessed the product packaging and labelling, ingredients and additives used, storage condition and hygiene maintenance were found not complying with the quality standards. The inspection covering all geographical regions of the country found 29.7 percent of drinking water in the market below quality standard.

The selling of non - quality ensured foods is rampant especially in developing countries like Nepal. Substandard food lacks proper nutrition food should provide, which results in malnutrition, a major problem among Nepali children. Journal of Nutrition’ published in 2019, linked stunting among Nepali children with lack of proper nutrition given to them through food. The World Food Programme reveals 36 percent of children in Nepal today are stunted. Similarly anemia is also widely prevalent in Nepal due to iron deficiency, including other diseases resulting from consuming food that lacks minerals and vitamins.

Although, it might not be practicable to consume the perfect amount of nutrients every time, consuming low quality foods on a regular basis is extremely harmful. Sub-standard foods seem more suitable and appealing as they cost less and are packaged with a lot of salt and saturated fat, however it risks being diagnosed with heart diseases.