Maharashtra: Akola Vendor Caught Selling Fake Garlic Made of Cement; Consumer Health Risks Highlighted
Akola, 19th August 2024: A video circulating widely on social media reveals a case of counterfeit garlic made from cement in Maharashtra’s Akola district. As the prices of real garlic have surged, some vendors have exploited the situation by selling fake garlic to unsuspecting customers.
The deception came to light when Subhash Patil’s wife, a retired police officer living in Bajoria Nagar, Akola, discovered she had been duped by a street vendor. She had bought 250 grams of garlic from a vendor near her home, but when she tried to peel it, the cloves wouldn’t separate.
Upon closer examination, it was found that the garlic was made of cement and coated with a white layer to mimic real garlic.
Patil expressed concern about the fraudulent practice, highlighting that the fake garlic is being sold alongside genuine garlic, making it difficult for consumers to differentiate between the two and posing potential health risks.
The counterfeit garlic is reportedly being mixed with real garlic, further complicating the issue for buyers.
In related news, last week the Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that garlic should be classified as a vegetable, allowing its sale in both vegetable and spice markets. This decision ends a long-standing debate about whether garlic is a vegetable or a spice, and is expected to benefit farmers and traders by recognizing garlic as both a vegetable and a spice.
