Honey...(Greater Noida) and Unihomes (Sector 117, Noida). Unitech remains an operating company and...

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Purity not guaranteed 10 brands tested

Honey

Term Insurance11 Plans Compared

Sweet and Salty BiscuitsWhich Brands Do Not Declare

Their Salt?

Product SurveyWater Purifiers

Vol. XIX, Issue 10 OCTOBER 2018 Rs 50

COMPARATIVE TESTHoneyPurity not guaranteed in these 10 brands

IN THE NEWS

10

6

Contents

19

25

28

STUFF MATTERSAntacidsnot healthy over the long term

DECODING FOOD LABELSSweet and Salty BiscuitsWhich brands do not declare their salt?

PRODUCT SURVEYWater Purifiers How and what to choose

34 BFSITerm Insurance PlansLarge cover at low cost

42 LEGAL MATTERSSubmitting ‘Execution’ Petition at Consumer CourtIs there a timeline?

4 •

Editor's VoiceChief EditorProf PK Ghosh

Mg EditorProf sri Ram Khanna

COOAshim sanyal

Director OutreachAnand Pandeya

GM, Operationsshalini Goyal Bhalla

Editor Padma Pegu

Sales & Distributionniraj Kumar singh

Hindi EditorialRashmi Khati

Digital TeamAnuradha GakharRajesh AdhikariAman nayanVikas Divya Patwal

Food DeskAshok Kanchan

BFSIGopal Ravi Kumarsubas tiwari

AccountsMonender singh

IT DeskHemant Upadhyay

TechnicalBhaskar Kr MukhopadhyayMAU Khan H Wadhwa KC Choudharysheeba Parveen

LegalAnkur sahaVikash soni

Projects and CSRRinki sharmaAmarjeet singhekta Purohitnaresh PrasadAmrit sindhuKritika Koli

MarketingPranay shethsnehanshu singhAshutosh Massey

SubscriptionFaraz Ahmed

AdminRamanjeet KaurGovind singh

Real Estatesajjan Jindal

Editor’s note: Consumer Voice does not accept any corporate advertisements or advertorials for the magazine. This has been the magazine’s policy since the first issue was published in 1997 and it keeps our reportage unbiased and non-partisan. Consumer Voice regularly publishes laboratory results of product tests. These products are purchased from the retail market before being sent to an independent NABL-accredited laboratory for testing.

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PadmaEditor

Squeezed between half-truths and half-lies is the customer, the king (or queen)

One thing that we all have learnt from our shopping experiences at ‘organized’ retail stores is that their sales staff is trained to politely (sometimes overtly) convince us to buy. Not infrequently their convincing is based on unhesitatingly spoken lies (half-truths, if you may) – promises that they know they cannot keep, commitments that they know will not be met.

I had yet another learning experience at an organized eyewear retail chain at the posh Khan Market in New Delhi. Over two weekends back, I landed at the store to get my vision checked and replace my glasses if required. We found that the brand was celebrating some anniversary (completion of 30 days/months, I can’t remember) and hence all frames were on a one-plus-one offer.

When I requested for the eye test, a trained salesgirl said, ‘how about checking the frames out for your glasses while you wait for your eye test...’

‘But what if the optician does not recommend new glasses for me...?’‘Ummm, OK....’ Apparently she had not been trained to tackle this infrequently asked

question. Anyway, I passed the time looking at frames and choosing a couple (buy one, get one free, remember?). I had to wait longer than I had been told because of a queue-breaking customer to whom the salesperson would not say anything, perhaps for fear of losing business. (Had I not chosen the frames already and invested my time in the store [and had my daughter not been sucking the ice lollies that they had offered right at the entrance], I would have quietly walked out.)

So, about 40 minutes and an eye exam later, the optician made this hard sales pitch to convince me into buying expensive lenses (called ‘progressive’ lenses). Of course I agreed to buy them after he answered my simple queries (could not come up with infrequent ones for him). A senior ophthalmologist later told me that that they were avoidable; that, however, is a different story.

My grudge against the sales team started only when I did not get my glasses within the committed four days. Worse, on the seventh day I visited the store only to find that the entire staff – the salesgirl, the optician and even the store supervisor who promised quick delivery – were missing from the store and the new team had no clue about what had been committed to a customer a week ago. The new salesperson took his time tracking the order and located one of the frames. Much like his colleagues from the week past, the new guy ‘committed’ to get the other frame readied within a day. Third day is gone, and I am yet to hear about my progressive glasses.

It may be that many organized retailers are quite at the end of their tether and that their interest in the customer ends with the sale. Salespeople are not apart from the organisation; if there is an organisational ethos, it should percolate through the rank and file. If the sales staff is misleading us customers, or pitching something to us by making false commitments, it reflects the larger organisation they represent and the leaders who run the show.

So it is that staffers are trained to engage with customers in friendly and warm tones, but mean business at all times. They are also trained to deal with standard queries with standard replies. If and when confronted, they will produce some printed paper with unreadable disclaimers that protect their lies. In my case, I was shown a brochure whose fine print mentioned that the latest delivery time was 10 working days, though that’s not what the salesperson had told me. Had the salesman not committed to deliver early or had I anticipated the experience that followed, I certainly wouldn’t have paid.

However, I also admit that I should not be judging salespeople so hard. If I get lied to and if I get sold something I don’t really need by a salesperson in 2018, it’s my fault too.

INDIANGATEWAY

TO LNG

World Trade Centre, 1st Floor, Babar Road, Barakhamba Lane, New Delhi-11001 (INDIA)

Petronet LNG Ltd. is importing 7.5 MMTPA of LNG from RasGas, Qatar under a 25 year long-term Sale and Purchase Agreement [LNG SPA).

The supply under the LNG SPA started in the year 2004.

In December 20'15 Petronet LNG Ltd. signed another LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement for 1.0 MMTPA with RasGas, Qatar on

CFR basis for 12 years. Petronet LNG Ltd. is also importing 1.44 MMTPA LNG from Exxon Mobil, Gorgon LNG Terminal in Australia.

6 •

In the NewsIn the News

A tale of three builders and many, many homebuyers

The months of August and September 2018 turned out to be a crucial time for three real estate giants – namely Unitech, Amrapali and Jaypee – as the Supreme Court passed orders against them in three different cases. That notwithstanding, the question remains: are homebuyers protected from errant builders? The answer is still not clear as these three cases tell us.

Unitech

This case was triggered by orders of the national consumer court as well as a cheating case against the promoters of the company. The promoters were also imprisoned for some time. Now, some relief is in sight for homebuyers with the apex court ordering for the auction of a property in Kolkata to recover money to complete the residential towers. The property was auctioned for Rs 116.95 crore and the buyer deposited a draft of Rs 28.89 crore with the Supreme Court registry. The court has appointed a committee to oversee the construction of 514 flats in five projects: namely Vistas (Gurgaon), Unihome (Mohali), Horizon and Verve (Greater Noida) and Unihomes (Sector 117, Noida). Unitech remains an operating company and there is hope that these towers will be completed in due course.

Amrapali

After it failed to come up with a viable plan for completing a host of unfinished projects, the Supreme Court held hearings on 1 and 2 August 2018 and thereafter passed an order for seizing all its assets and freezing the bank accounts of 40 companies belonging to Amrapali Group. The personal bank accounts of all directors of these 40 companies, too, were ordered to be frozen. There was an admitted diversion of over Rs 2,765 crores from six projects to other projects. The court also approved a proposal by NBCC Ltd, a public sector company, offering to complete the unfinished projects of Amrapali. Further, it was decided that independent auditors would be appointed to conduct forensic audit.

CONSUMER VOICE OCtObER 2018 • 7


Jaypee

Jaypee Associates Ltd (JAL), the holding company, and Jaypee Infratech Ltd (JIL), its subsidiary, were both before the Supreme Court. Homebuyers had approached the top court after the subsidiary company was taken for insolvency proceedings by its creditor IDBI Bank Ltd under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 (IBC), for a default of Rs 526.11 crore. Upon such proceedings, an order under Section 14 imposing a moratorium on all pending suits and proceedings was passed. This meant that all pending cases by homebuyers against the company came to a standstill. Under Section 238, this law prevails over other laws like Consumer Protection Act, 1986, and Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) Act, under which homebuyers were seeking relief. The homebuyers filed a writ petition in Supreme Court in 2017 (Chitra Sharma vs UoI and Ors), following which the court stayed the insolvency proceedings. It resumed these proceeding vide an order only after including representatives of homebuyers in the process. The holding company JAL was ordered to deposit Rs 2,000 crore by 27 October 2017, which was later extended to 5 November 2017. By an order dated 30 November, the Supreme Court asked the amicus curiae to open a website to seek applications for refund of money deposited by homebuyers. By 21 March 2018, it was found that only eight per cent of homebuyers were interested in refunds of their money; the rest wanted their flats. By this time the refund claimed amounted to Rs 1,300 crore of principal amount, while only Rs 750 crore was deposited in the court. Meanwhile, on 10 January 2018, the RBI moved an application to commence insolvency proceedings against JAL.

JAL appeared to be seeking favour of the court to be considered to bid to regain control of its subsidiary JIL in the insolvency resolution process. The court allowed it to bid. However, its bid was rejected as being ineligible along with four other bids. The resolution process got four eligible bidders but none of the proposals was accepted as the resolution bid failed by the 270-day deadline of 12 May 2018. The total debts owed to creditors stood at Rs 9,984.7 crore. Under Section 33 of IBC, if the resolution plan fails the company goes in for liquidation. The Supreme Court noted that liquidation of JIL would not be in the interest of homebuyers.

Ordinance: The Supreme Court noted that the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018, which came into force on 6 June 2018, provided that an amount paid by an allottee of a real estate project would amount to a borrowing. This gave them the status of financial creditors in the insolvency process, with rights under Section 7 of IBC. They would be represented in the committee of creditors and have a voting right in proportion to their financial debts payable by the company.

JAL was unable to give possession to 21,532 homebuyers. Under the guise of helping homebuyers, it was seeking to stay the resolution process against itself but the same was rejected by the court. The Supreme Court noted that JAL was seeking to stay insolvency proceedings against itself and also to regain control of JIL to frustrate the RBI’s insolvency application. The court further observed that JAL had diverted Rs 10,000 crore from JIL. Not only that, JAL was a defaulter of about Rs 30,000 crore due to more than 30 banks. The court ordered a fresh resumption of the process of resolution of JIL instead of allowing it to be liquidated.

Finally, the Supreme Court declined to refund money to homebuyers out of the money deposited in court on the grounds that it would be unfair to the bulk of homebuyers who had opted for getting possession of homes instead of refunds. It also ordered resumption of the insolvency process against JAL. The amount of Rs 750 crore deposited in court would be transferred to National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to apply under the insolvency process.

As for the stranded homebuyers, they are still staring at uncertainty as both JIL and JAL are in insolvency and there is no assurance that the homes promised to them will be completed and handed over to them.

8 •


Voice OutreachGreen Action Week

As part of Green Action Week, Consumer Voice collaborated in a tree-planting drive in New Delhi on 8 September 2018. Students and teachers participated in the drive, and so did staff members of Delhi Transportation Corporation. More than 100 saplings were planted and participants were encouraged to adopt a plant each. This year, the Green Action Week theme is ‘community sharing’ and as part of that, the Consumer Voice team is engaged in a project called ‘Clean Air for All’.

Green Action Week is an initiative by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) and is carried out in coordination with Consumers International (CI). It is a global campaign to promote sustainable consumption. Over the years, Consumer Voice has been striving to promote sustainable consumption and sustainable environmental practices.

Air pollution level in Delhi has reached epidemic proportions. It is now labelled as one of the world’s most polluted cities.

The problem has worsened due to lack of trees. Sample this – one tree was cut every hour over the last 13 years, according to Delhi government data. Recently there was a proposal for felling of 16,500 trees for the redevelopment of some South Delhi colonies. Nearly 4 lakh trees are lost to cremations every year in Delhi’s burning ghats. Each traditional cremation uses 400 kg to 500 kg wood, requiring over 3.6 crore kg wood equivalent. Wood-based traditional funerals constitute more than 95 per cent of cremations in Delhi.

Why trees?

Trees are known to improve air quality. How do they do that?

Trees absorb odours and pollutant gases like nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ground-level ozone, and then filter particulates out of the air we breathe by trapping them on their leaves



and bark. Trees absorb carbon dioxide by removing and storing the carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air.

Adverse health effects of air pollution on humans

Is the hullabaloo around polluted air justified? Let’s take the medical approach and see.

The most common sources of air pollution include particulates, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. These sources have a negative impact on the human body. Though the pollutants affect almost all the systems of the human body, the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system are disproportionately affected.

The health effects caused by air pollution may include difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing, asthma and worsening of existing respiratory conditions like bronchitis and emphysema and cardiac conditions like ischemic heart disease. Exposure to high levels of air pollution during pregnancy has been linked to miscarriages, premature birth and autism spectrum disorder.

In a study published in The Lancet, India was ranked No. 1 in pollution-related deaths, with 25 lakh deaths in 2015. India accounted for about 28 per cent of an estimated ninety lakh pollution-linked deaths worldwide.

No smog without fire

When fog or haze is mixed with smoke or other atmospheric pollutants, it leads to a particular condition known as smog. This occurs mostly in the winter months when fog is present everywhere in the morning, especially in North India.

From where does this smoke come? Burning of crop-residue waste, also known as stubble burning, by farmers post the harvesting periodin Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the months of October–November produces a lot of smoke and consequently aggravates the condition.

Consumer Voice invites you to participate in the Jago Grahak Jago Youth Festival. We have launched competitions in three segments: namely Hindi kavita, cartoon/meme/illustration, and short video.

Last date for submission of entries is 30 November 2018. For more information please visit www.consumer-voice.org/events or contact us at 9667984141.

Certificate of Recognition being handed over by Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer Voice, to RS Dixit, chairman and managing director, Gopaljee Agro Foods Pvt. Ltd, on Ananda being ranked No. 1 in the comparative product testing of packaged paneer. The report was published in the September 2018 issue of Consumer Voice. Also seen in the picture is Suraj Dixit, director, Gopaljee Agro Foods Pvt. Ltd.

10 •

Comparative Test

Like it or not, there is more to honey than its tempting colour and flavour. there is no denying that honey in its pure form is a powerhouse of health benefits – from fighting ulcers to treating coughs and cuts. But not all honey sold in the market is pure. Honey is often adulterated, which means it is mixed with glucose solutions, sweet syrups, or low-quality honey with high water content. the following report will clarify whether the various brands of honey available in the market meet the basic requirements, in particular those concerning purity.

A Consumer Voice Report

HoneyPurity not guaranteed in these 10 brands

Adulteration of honey means it is impure, artificial or adulterated. Glucose, dextrose, molasses, sugar syrup, invert sugar, corn syrup, or any other similar product may have been

added to it.

We conducted authenticity tests, including for C4 sugars, on 10 leading brands of honey to be sure if they are pure at all. The results may come as a revelation.

The test programme was developed as per parameters listed in the national standards – that is, FSS Regulations (new notification 31/07/ 2018), Indian Standard and Agmark. Food business operators have to comply with the requirements of the revised standard from 01/01/2019. It may be noted that as per Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Agmark, honey has been categorized into three grades: Special, Grade A and Standard.

Additionally, we carried out tests on a range of quality, safety and acceptability parameters. These included fructose–glucose ratio, total reducing sugars, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), total energy value, moisture, total plate count, antibiotics, acidity, specific gravity, optical density, water-insoluble matter and ash. The tests were conducted at an NABL-accredited laboratory.


Honey

BRANDS TESTED

Sl No.

Brand MRP (Rs) Net Weight (gm)

Price per 100 gm (Rs)

Best before (months)

Manufactured/Marketed by

1 24 Mantra 130 250 52 12 Sresta Natural Bioproducts Pvt. Ltd

2 Dabur 122 250 gm (75 gm free)

38 18 Dabur India Ltd

3 Fresh & Pure 149 500 gm 30 18 Future Consumer Ltd

4 Hitkary 111 250 gm (250 gm extra free)

44 18 Hitkary Pharmacy India Pvt. Ltd

5 Khadi (Agmarked)

140 250 56 18 Paras Dukh Bhanjan

6 Himalaya 115 225 gm (buy 1, get 1 free)

51 24 Apis India Pvt. Ltd

7 Reliance 199 (offer price 164)

500 40 24 Reliance Retail Ltd

8 Patanjali 135 500 27 12 Patanjali Ayurved Ltd

9 Zandu 165 250 66 18 Kejriwal Bee Care Pvt. Ltd

10 Baidyanath 201 500 40 18 Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan Pvt. Ltd

Key Findings

• ExceptZandu,noneofthetestedbrandsofhoneyconformtoC4sugarsrequirement.

• Noneofthebrands,includingZandu,conformtotheothertestparametersforpurityandauthenticityas per requirements of new notification by FSSAI.

• Noneofthebrandsispurehoney.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO) Codex Alimentarius (CA) for honey, “Honey is the natural sweet substance produced by honeybees from the nectar of plants or from secretions of living parts of plants or excretions of plant-sucking insects on the living parts of plants, which the bees collect, transform by combining with specific substances of their own, deposit, dehydrate, store and leave in honeycombs to ripen and mature.”

Honey is comprised of 17%–20% water, 76%–80% glucose, and fructose, pollen, wax and mineral salts. Its composition and colour are dependent upon the type of flower that supplies the nectar.

12 •

Comparative Testshall any other additions be made other than honey.” FSSAI also introduced the following parameters for finding out whether the honey is pure or not.

C4 Sugars

These shall not be more than seven per cent as per notification of FSSAI. The test for C4 sugars is used to detect whether honey has been adulterated by adding sugar (for example, cane sugar or corn sugar).

• Except one brand, Zandu, all others were found to be non-conforming to the requirement of C4 sugars. C4 sugar percentage in 24 Mantra was above the specified limit.

• Protein was not detected in any brand except Zandu and 24 Mantra.

TEST RESULTSFOR AUTHENTICITY OF HONEYCheapest commercially available sugar produced

from cane sugar, high-fructose corn syrups, and potato syrups are among the most commonly used sweet syrups in honey. This is a serious economic and regulatory problem. As usual, the losers are the consumers. Sugar cane and maize/corn are tropical plants and they produce sugars via a slightly different biochemical pathway than that used by nectar-bearing plants.

FSSAI vide their notification dated 31/07/2018 has stated that “honey sold as such shall not have added to it any food ingredient, including food additives, nor

Parameter Requirements

C4 sugars, % by mass <7% (not more than 7%)

Δδ 13C F-G, permill NMT ±1 permill

Δδ 13C, maximum (absolute), permill

NMT 2.1 permill

Δδ 13C P-H, permill ≥ -1permill

P-protein, F-fructose, G-glucoseNMT – not more than

Protein is found naturally in honey and formed by bees through enzymatic breakdown of pollen and nectar. The carbon isotope values of the honey and protein must be virtually identical if there are no added sugars. If any sugar is added to the honey, then the carbon isotope value of honey will be changed, while the protein value is unchanged.


Honey

Read the Label

The first thing you should do before buying a jar of honey is read the label and check that the ingredient list does not contain ‘high-fructose corn syrup’ or commercial glucose, two additives that are frequently used to ‘stretch’ the honey and keep it from solidifying.

All honey is liquid, but with time they tend to solidify, or ‘crystallize’ into a substance resembling grains of sugar. Addition of artificial sugars allows honey to stay in a liquid state for a long duration of time.

If you buy a jar of honey that is already crystallized, it is pure. If your honey is liquid, you can wait a few days to see if it solidifies or throw it in the fridge to accelerate the process. If the honey never crystallizes, there is a high probability that it is adulterated honey.

Brand → 24 Mantra

Dabur Fresh

& Pure

Hitkary Khadi Himalaya Reliance Patanjali Zandu Baidyanath

C4 sugars (%)

12.27 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 2.19 ND

Remarks NC NC NC NC NC NC NC NC C NC

ND – protein not detected; C – conforming; NC – not conforming

C – conforming; NC – not conforming

Δδ 13C F-G, permill Δδ 13C, max. (absolute), permill Δδ 13C P-H, permill

Requirement → NMT ±1 permill NMT 2.1 permill ≥ -1 permill

24 Mantra C C NC

Dabur NC C NC

Fresh & Pure NC NC NC

Hitkary C C NC

Khadi C NC NC

Himalaya NC C NC

Reliance NC NC NC

Patanjali C C NC

Zandu NC NC C

Baidyanath NC NC NC

Other Tests

It may be noted that none of the brands conform to the other parameters relating to purity/authenticity of honey. The test results reveal that none of the brands is pure honey.

14 •

Comparative Test

FOR PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS

Fructose–Glucose Ratio | Total Reducing Sugars | Hydroxymethylfurfural | Total Energy Value |

Moisture | Total Plate Count | Antibiotics

Fructose–Glucose Ratio

Fructose-to-glucose ratio should be a minimum 0.95–1.5 as per FSS notification. This ratio indicates the ability of honey to crystallize. When the fructose/glucose ratio is high, honey remains liquid.

• All the brands met the minimum requirement mandated by FSSAI.

Total Reducing Sugars

Reducing sugars are capable of reducing other compounds. The most common reducing sugars are glucose and fructose.

As per FSSAI notification, reducing sugars shall be a minimum 65 per cent.

• All the brands contained reducing sugars above the minimum requirement of 65 per cent.

Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)

Hydroxymethylfurfural is often used as an indicator of the quality of honey. It occurs naturally in most honeys; however, high levels of HMF may be the result of inadequate storage, adulteration with sugar additives, or severe heat treatment. HMF in honey shall be a maximum 80 mg/kg.

• All brands passed the test.

Total Energy Value

Honey contributes a good amount of energy in our daily requirement.

• Energy was found highest in Reliance and lowest in Fresh & Pure.

Moisture

Higher moisture content can lead to undesirable fermentation of the honey during storage. FSSAI has set the permissible limit for moisture at 20 per cent as per the new standard.

• All the brands were within the specified limit.

All brands were within the specified limit with regard to these parameters: ash (not more than 0.5 per cent by mass), acidity (maximum 0.2 per cent by weight), specific gravity (not less than 1.35 at 27 degrees Celsius), water-insoluble matter (to check for presence of impurities), and optical density (maximum 0.3 per cent).

Total Plate Count

At present, the national standards have not specified any limit for microbiological contamination. For our report, we conducted the ‘total plate count/gm’ test on the 10 brands of honey to check if these were prone to microbial spoilage.

• TPC in the samples was found up to 2,000 cfu/gm, which is not considered to be high


Honey

Antibiotics

Conventional bees are given large doses of antibiotics to protect them from diseases, but in the process the honey also becomes contaminated with these antibiotics. We checked the samples for presence of seven antibiotics – namely oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, chlortetracycline and erythromycin.

• None of the seven antibiotics was detected in any of the brands.

Packing

The honey shall be packed in hygienically clean, wide-mouthed glass containers or in acid-resistant, lacquered tin containers, or in other suitable containers. With glass-bottle packing, one does not have to worry about harmful substances from plastic leaching into the honey, or the plastic not being food-grade. The screwed caps for the glass containers shall be of non-corrosive and non-reactive material and shall be provided with washers to avoid spilling.

• Three brands – 24 Mantra, Dabur and Zandu – were packed in glass bottles. The rest were in plastic bottles.

Marking

Each container should be legibly and indelibly marked with these details: a) name of the material and grade designation; b) name of the packer; c) batch or code number; d) date of packing; e) net weight; f) standard mark (Agmark), if any; g) best-before date; h) storage instruction; i) nutritional information (optional); j) green dot; k) MRP; and l) Customer-care details.

• All brands carried the required information on their labels.

• Except Khadi, none of the brands had Agmark and none declared their grades.

16 •

Comparative Test

Responses of Manufacturers

As a matter of policy, before publication the test results of the brands are shared with their respective

manufacturers/marketers inviting their views/comments. We reproduce here the responses in brief:

Brand Manufacturer’s Comment CV’s Response

Patanjali As per our report, the test parameters are well within the specifications and the sample meets the specifications of pure honey. Foreign sugars were not detected.

Our independent laboratory has reconfirmed the test results.

24 Mantra All our products are sent for testing in accredited labs and the lab results indicate that our honey is not adulterated.

Our laboratory has double-checked the results and reconfirmed the same.

Dabur 1) C4 sugars cannot be evaluated without the evaluation of the protein. The protein evaluation data is missing.

2) For C3, the methods mentioned/used in your study are not in vogue in our country.

We completely differ with your results and recommend that a joint evaluation be carried out by our scientists and your scientists.

1) The test report shared with you mentioned protein result as NA (the component [protein] was not detected).

2) IRMS analysis is based on AOAC method and HPLC is used only for separation of sugar, which was verified by retention time.

Our test lab is NABL-accredited and has the requisite expertise for testing of honey. The lab has reconfirmed the test results.

Baidyanath Limits of C3 and C4 sugars have not yet been implemented by FSSAI and moreover, the technology for checking these has only recently been introduced in India.

Testing of C3 and C4 sugars was conducted in an NABL-accredited government laboratory to check the purity of the honey. FSSAI has finalized standards for honey and notified the same on 31/07/2018.

Himalaya Regarding C4 test results showing NC, we have in-house testing facility and the results show that our product complies with international norms. Additional parameters mentioned in the report are part of the draft notification by FSSAI for review and suggestions.

Our laboratory has double-checked and reconfirmed the results. FSSAI has finalized standards for honey and notified the same on 31/07/2018.


Honey

How to check the purity of honey

• Takeatablespoonofhoneyandputitinaglassofwater.Ifthehoneydissolves,thenitisnotpure.Pure honey should stay together as a solid when submerged in water.

• Takeabitofhoneyandmixitwithwater.Thenplacefourorfivedropsofvinegarintothesolution.If it turns foamy, the honey might have been adulterated with gypsum.

• Scoopabitofhoneyintoaspoonandletitfallfromthespoon.Honeywithhighwatercontentwillfall quickly. Mature honey of good quality will stay on the spoon or fall very slowly.

• Lightamatchandtrytoburnsomeofthehoney.Ifitlightsandburns,thenitispure.Impureorlow-quality honey often contains extra water that keeps it from burning.

• Ifyouhaveiodineathome,takesomehoney,mixitwithwater,andaddafewdropsofiodine.Ifthesolution turns blue, then the honey has been adulterated with some sort of starch or flour.

• Takeasmallpieceofold,hardbreadandsubmergeitinthehoney.If,whenyouremoveit10minuteslater, the bread is still hard, then the honey is pure. If there is a lot of water in the honey, the bread will soften.

What makes honey organic?

Honey is considered organic when it is locally grown and not processed. Organic honey, also known as ‘raw’ honey, does not contain any pesticides or environmental pollutants. Since it does not go through the traditional process for safety, these standards are upheld for honey to be considered organic.

Also, non-organic sugar or antibiotics are not used at any point in organic honey. Organic honey is a natural, healthier and environment-friendly form of honey. There is no handling of pesticides or bioengineered synthetic products in organic honey. This honey is extracted from beehives that are situated in natural locations and the owners have to meet a set of standards that include bees’ management, a proper extraction process and regulated processing temperature. Organic honey does not contain any residues of pesticides or other toxins found in a factory-produced bottled honey easily available in the market. Also, organic honey undergoes a rigorous process of chemical testing so that there is no deposit in it.

18 •

Comparative Test

Honey’s Health Benefits

Honey has anti-viral, anti-microbial and anti-parasitic effects. Its capacity to inhibit the growth of microorganisms and fungi is well-documented.

Honey contains a number of minerals and vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and calcium. There are also important antioxidants, such as flavonoids and alkaloids. There are trace amounts of more than 15 amino acids found in honey.

Among other things, honey –

• Strengthenstheimmunesystem

• Healswoundsandburns

• Soothescoughs

• Helpsinrelievingseasonalallergies

• Nourishestheskin

Overall, while there are numerous health benefits that can be gained from honey, the extent of such benefits greatly depends on its quality. Not all honey is created equally and hence the various types do not necessarily provide the same benefits.

Storing Your Honey

Store honey at room temperature – your kitchen counter or pantry shelf is ideal. If you keep it in the fridge it will become too thick and it is then likely to crystallize. However, even at room temperature the honey can crystallize over time. It has a tendency to absorb moisture, which contributes to crystallization. Always close the lid tightly. (Crystallization is the natural process of glucose sugar molecules aligning into orderly arrangements known as crystals. It is not an indicator of spoilage, impurity, age or quality.)

If your honey crystallizes and if you don’t like its rather gritty mouth feel, simply place the honey jar in warm water and stir until the crystals dissolve.

Alternately, place the honey container into near boiling water that has been removed from the heat. Here are the steps:

1. Bring a pan of water to a boil.

2. Turn off the heat.

3. Place the honey container in the water with cap open.

4. Leave until both have cooled.

5. Repeat as needed.

Source: National Honey Board, United States


Decoding Food Labels

the two opposite flavours come together neatly in these biscuits and make these an all-time favourite for many. Be it teatime, break time, or any other time, one can depend on these biscuits to provide instant satisfaction and an instant rush of energy too. talking of energy, it is one of the things whose value is mentioned on the label of the biscuit pack. this and the amounts of protein, dietary fibre, fat, sugar, etc. the following report analyses the information pertaining to these nutrients given on the label of five brands of sweet and salty biscuits. Given that nutrition labels are not always easy to interpret, or standardised for enabling comparison among brands in a specific category, we have here summed up the essential details on the basis of which we as consumers can make informed choices. Interestingly, while declaration of sodium/salt on food products label is not mandatory as per Indian law, it was declared by one of the five brands we compared. Declaration of dietary fibre is also not mandatory as per Indian law but two brands have done so. these are consumer-friendly steps on the part of these brands and should definitely give us some food for thought.

sweet and salty BiscuitsWhich brands do not declare their salt?

20 •

We chose five popular brands of sweet and salty biscuits to interpret the nutritional information given on their labels.


Sl No. Brand Manufactured/Marketed by

1 Anmol 2in1

Anmol Industries Ltd

2 Britannia50 50

Britannia Industries Ltd

3 ParleKrack Jack

Parle Biscuits Pvt. Ltd

4 PatanjaliTwisty Tasty

Patanjali Ayurved Ltd

5 PriyagoldCNC

Surya Food & Agro Ltd

Sl No.

Brand Energy Protein Dietary FibreIn 100 gm

(kcal)% of RDA (for woman doing

sedentary work)

In 100 gm (gm)

% of RDA

for man

In 100 gm (gm)

% RDA (WHO Recommendation)

1 Anmol 2in1

446 23.5 6.0 10.0 NM -

2 Britannia50 50

483 25.4 7.0 11.7 NM -

3 ParleKrack Jack

496 26.1 6.6 11.0 NM -


462 24.3 10.0 16.7 6.5 21.7

5 PriyagoldCNC

487 25.6 6.7 11.2 0.0 0.0

Energy, Protein and Dietary Fibre

*NM – not mentioned

Key Findings

• EnergyvalueishighestinParleKrackJack(496kcal per 100 gm) and lowest in Anmol 2in1 (446 kcal per 100 gm).

• Consuming100gmofBritannia5050biscuitsbya woman engaged in sedentary work means one-fourth (25 per cent) of her daily requirement of energy has been met.

• ProteinvalueishighestinPatanjaliTwistyTasty(10 gm in 100 gm) and lowest in Anmol 2in1 (6 gm in 100 gm).

• Consuming100gmofAnmol2in1biscuitsbya

man means one-tenth (10 per cent) of his daily requirement of protein has been met.

• Declaration of dietary fibre on the label is notmandatory as per Indian law. Only Patanjali and Priyagold have declared dietary fibre on their labels. This is a consumer-friendly step on the part of these brands.

• As per their label declaration, Patanjali TwistyTasty has 6.5 gm dietary fibre in 100 gm and Priyagold CNC has 0.0 (zero) gm dietary fibre in 100 gm. Also, while Patanjali Twisty Tasty declares use of whole-wheat flour (atta), Priyagold CNC declares use of wheat flour (maida). Patanjali Twisty Tasty label also claims 0 per cent maida.


Sweet and Salty Biscuits

Dietary fibre includes all parts of plant foods that our body cannot digest or absorb. Unlike other food components such as fats, proteins, or carbohydrates that our body breaks down and absorbs, fibre is not digested. Instead, it passes relatively intact through our stomach, small intestine, colon, and out of our body. Dietary-fibre requirement can be met by adopting a diet that incorporates plant-origin foods including fruits, vegetables and grains.

A high-fibre diet offers many health benefits, which include:

• Normalisingbowelmovements

• Maintainingbowelhealth

• Loweringofcholesterollevels

• Helpingcontrolbloodsugarlevels

• Aidinginachievinghealthyweight

The WHO Committee on Chronic Degenerative Diseases has recommended a daily dietary-fibre intake of 30 gm.

Nutritional labelling of packaged food products refers to the disclosure of the main nutrients, such as energy, fat, protein, carbohydrate, sugar and salt content, on the label. As per India’s Food Safety and Standards (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011, mandatory nutritional information or nutritional facts per 100 grams or 100 millilitres or per serving of the product shall be given on the label. Such information shall contain the following:

a) energy value in kilocalories (kcal)

b) the amounts of protein, carbohydrate (specify quantity of sugar) and fat in gram (gm) or ml

c) the amount of any other nutrient for which a nutrition or health claim is made

Note that declaration of salt/sodium and dietary fibre is not mandatory.

22 •

Traffic Light Labelling

In year 2007, Food Standards Agency (FSA) of the United Kingdom developed traffic light labelling guidelines with these objectives:

• allowconsumerstocorrectlyidentifyhealthier food products

• toassistconsumerstomakecomparisonsbetween products easily

• toallowconsumerstomakethesecomparisons at a glance

The traffic light labelling system uses three colours – green, amber and red – to show at a glance if a particular food has low, medium or high amounts of fat, sugar and salt. Foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt are linked with obesity and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and high blood pressure. As yet, the UK labelling system is not followed in India.

Per-Day Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Indians

This is as per the manual of Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2011, prepared by National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad. RDA refers to the average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all healthy people.

Ingredient Green (low content)

Amber (medium content)

Red (high content)

Fat less than or equal to 3 gm between 3 gm and 17.5 gm more than 17.5 gm

Sugar less than or equal to 5 gm between 5 gm and 22.5 gm more than 22.5 gm

Salt less than or equal to 0.3 gm between 0.3 gm and 1.5 gm more than 1.5 gm

Results can be interpreted as follows:Green: eat often (desirable); amber: eat occasionally (neutral); red: eat sparingly (undesirable)

This is how the criteria for foods (per 100 grams) are set out in the traffic light labelling system:



Sweet and Salty Biscuits

Traffic Light Rating of Sweet and Salty Biscuits

•NM: Not mentioned •*Sodium multiplied by 2.54

Key Findings

• Traffic light for fat is red for Britannia 50 50, Parle Krack Jack and Priyagold CNC – this means eat these sparingly (undesirable). For Anmol 2in1 and Patanjali Twisty Tasty it is amber – this means one may consume these occasionally.

• Traffic light for sugar is amber for all brands.

• While declaration of sodium/salt on food products

label is not mandatory as per Indian law, Priyagold CNC has done so. This is a consumer-friendly step. Traffic light for salt is amber for Priyagold CNC, which means one may eat it occasionally.

• As per WHO guidelines on dietary salt, consuming 100 gm of Priyagold CNC by an adult means about one-fourth (24 per cent) of his/her daily requirement of salt has been met.

Sl No.

Brand Fat Sugar Salt

In 100 gm(gm)

Traffic Light

In 100 gm(gm)

TrafficLight

In 100 gm (gm)

TrafficLight

1Anmol 2in1

14.5 Amber 15.3 Amber NM -

2Britannia50 50

19.0 Red 19.5 Amber NM -

3 Parle Krack Jack

21.4 Red 18.5 Amber NM -


15.4 Amber 15.4 Amber NM -

5 PriyagoldCNC

20.0 Red 16.7 Amber 1.2* Amber

24 •

WHO (World Health Organization) Guidelines on Dietary Salt

Adults should consume less than 2 grams of sodium, or 5 grams of salt, per day, according to guidelines issued by the WHO. The main source of sodium in our diet is salt, although it can also come from sodium glutamate, used as a condiment in many parts of the world. A person with elevated sodium levels can be at risk of raised blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Unit Price

The unit price gives a fair idea about the cheapest and costliest brands.

Key Finding

• As per unit price, Priyagold CNC (Rs 9.62 per 100 gm) is the cheapest brand. The costliest brand is Patanjali Twisty Tasty (Rs 12.50 per 100 gm).

Sl No. Brand Maximum RetailPrice (MRP) (Rs)

Declared Net Weight (gm) Unit Price (price per 100 gm) (Rs)

1 Anmol 2in1

10.00 100(80 + 20 extra)

10.00

2 Britannia50 50

10.00 100(80 + 20 free)

10.00

3 ParleKrack Jack

10.00 94.5(75.6 + 18.9 extra)

10.58


5.00 40 12.50

5 PriyagoldCNC

10.00 104(83.2 + 20.8 free)

9.62



Stuff Matters

there are these advertisements that feature individuals gulping down food in excessive amounts, leading to indigestion (also known as heartburn and acidity). this discomfort is often shown to be eased by the branded antacid, and invariably has a funny and loud burp as an accompaniment. the portrayal is funny but doing this – that is, resorting to the antacid – on a long-term basis can lead to serious health concerns. such advertisements trick the consumers into believing that one can stuff their stomach with large amounts of food and subsequently ease the discomfort by popping an antacid. And trick it certainly is, for too much consumption of antacids is unhealthy. Find out why.

It is important to know that apart from gulping down an antacid to ease the discomfort, one must understand the cause of it and address it. One’s long-term health may be determined by this. Taking antacids doesn’t actually solve the

problem; it merely affords immediate relief.

Antacidsnot healthy over the long term

Excessive Production of AcidOur stomach naturally produces acid to properly

digest the food we eat. The production of this acid is dependent on the type of food and the quantity in which we eat it. Unhealthy lifestyle habits – such as an imbalanced diet and low physical activity – may

Heartburn happens when acidic contents of the stomach reflux back into the oesophagus (long, muscular tube that connects your mouth to your stomach) and inflame its sensitive lining. This leads to a burning sensation in the oesophagus. Antacids contain alkaline chemicals that neutralize the action of excessive acid produced in the stomach.

26 •

Stuff Matters

contribute to an imbalance in the production of this acid.

Foods that can cause heartburn:

• Productsthatcontaincaffeine

• Alcohol

• Sodasandcarbonatedbeverages

• Tablesalt/Saltyfoods

• High-fatfoods

• Spicyfoods

Antacids

Antacids

Sodium bicarbonate

Sodium citrate & potassium citrate

These are also known as fruit salts

Magnesium hydroxide

Aluminium hydroxide

Aluminium phosphate

Magaldrate

Almagate

Hydrotalcite

Non-Systemic Antacids

ComplexAntacids

Source: Antacids and alginate*-containing preparations: What is their mechanism of action and their place in the management of GERD? C. Scarpignato, G. Gimbo (Parma)

*What are alginates?

Alginates are also used commonly to treat indigestion issues. Preparations containing alginate are very effective in easing acid refluxes. A combination of both is considered to be an apt solution for acid refluxes.

Too much acid production can lead to ulcers and other serious health concerns. Any long-term stomach discomfort must be reported. In any case, antacids should never be consumed for the long term without consulting a physician.

Type of Antacids

Antacids can be divided into systemic and non-systemic antacids. Systemic antacids are absorbed mostly from the gut into the bloodstream, whereas non-systemic antacids are not.

Antacids work by counteracting, or neutralising,

any excess stomach acid

Alginates form a 'raft' that floats on top of stomach

contents

Combo products contain an antacid & a raft-

forming alginate


Antacids

– Compiled by Richa Pande

Indigenous preparations in the Indian market

There are many indigenous preparations that are known to relieve the symptoms of indigestion. These are marketed as ‘ayurvedic proprietary medicines’. Yet, despite being labelled as ‘ayurvedic’, quiet often these preparations are not completely ayurvedic. Also, to stabilize the ayurvedic ingredients, additives are added to these preparations.

Key Findings

• Many clinical studies have associated consumption of antacids with nausea and headache.

• Consumption of antacids (aluminium-containing antacids) is known to cause constipation. This is because of the impact of aluminium on gut motility.

• Due to the same reason, antacids that contain magnesium are known to cause diarrhoea (impact of magnesium on gut motility).

• Milk-alkali syndrome is a condition in which the level of calcium and alkali (opposite of acidic) raises in the blood levels. This is caused by consuming either dietary supplements (to correct calcium deficiency) or antacids (which contain calcium) in excessive amounts. If it isn’t treated, it may lead to kidney failure or even death.

• Excessive consumption of antacids (containing bicarbonates) can lead to increased bicarbonate levels in blood, leading to metabolic alkalosis.

Extra Caution Needed

Antacids are alkaline (basic) in nature. This is why they shouldn’t be taken along with acidic medicines (such as digoxin, phenytoin and chlorpromazine). The reason is simple. Antacids will react with these medicines and will limit the absorption of these drugs. Antacids containing magnesium reduce the absorption of antibiotics. Antacids also impact the elimination of some drugs from the body.

Liquid forms of antacids work faster than tablets. If you are taking a tablet, chew it slowly. Do not gulp down the whole tablet with water. If you are taking liquid, it is advisable to take it undiluted or with very little water.

Antacids may impact the nutrient absorption in the body and their regular use may lead to depletion of essential vitamins and minerals in the body.

Patients suffering from kidney disease/heart disease/liver disease must not consume antacids without consulting a physician. Some antacids have sodium bicarbonates, which can lead to adverse effects.

Some Remedies to Prevent/Curb Indigestion

• Avoid consuming large meals, which can lead to excess production of acid and thereon to acid refluxes. Small meals ensure that the stomach is not overfilled with food.

• Some individuals find spices and condiments – for example ajwain (carom seeds), pink salt, cardamom, heeng (asafoetida) – to be relieving when they experience indigestion. Scientifically, too, they have been found to aid in indigestion.

• Curd has probiotics that help in keeping the gut healthy. Its consumption can aid in maintaining a healthy gut flora.

• Other foods that you can add to your diet to help relieve heartburn include bananas, melons, oatmeal, grains, potatoes, ginger and green veggies.

28 •

some of us boil water before drinking it; some of us are resigned to buying packaged water regularly; and some of us invest in water filters and purifiers. the last mentioned is a relatively expensive proposition but consumers are opting for it because it is considered to be the best bet against unsafe or contaminated water. the market for water purifiers – ranging from simple filters and gravity-based purifiers to those with latest technologies such as reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration (UF) and ultraviolet (UV) and their combinations – is growing tremendously and various brands are available in each category. Predictably, this vast range has also increased the complexity of buying the right purifier, whether for your home or office. Be that as it may, how many of us realize that the water purifier we buy should be as per the quality of water supplied in our homes/offices? Do we know what impurities are removed by which type of water purifier? Do we even know what these impurities are? the first thing you need to choose is the water-purification method, and knowing the quality of water in your area will help here. Also, know that some technologies involve wasting a lot of water to recover pure water, while those that involve less or no wastage may not be the best suited for the water in your area. the following guide will help you sort out the various parameters that you may want to assess before making a purchase.

Water PurifiersHow and what to choose

Product Survey


Water Purifiers

Having done the first round of research, you will have to first decide which water-purification method works best for your needs and also suits your preferences. Let’s do a quick recap.

Reverse osmosis (RO) purifiers

RO technology pushes the water molecules from a region of higher TDS level to one of lower TDS level by applying external pressure with the help of a water pump to reverse the natural flow of water. Water with impurities or high TDS is pumped at high pressure into the RO chamber, and this pushes the water molecules across the semi-permeable membrane to the other side while leaving the dissolved solids and other impurities behind. All the dissolved solids and impurities along with some input water, also known as RO wastewater, are discharged through a separate outlet.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has specified the maximum TDS limit for safe drinking water as 500 ppm (500 milligrams per litre). There is absolutely no need to use an RO purifier if the TDS level is below 300 ppm. If your water source has low TDS, then the RO purifier will further reduce it to a very low TDS level. This means the purified water will then be devoid of essential minerals like calcium and magnesium which are required for our good health. Very low TDS may also not be acceptable to consumers due to its insipid taste.

RO purifiers are therefore recommended for purifying water that has high TDS level. However, there is also the fact that a significant part of the input water is discharged along with the dissolved impurities, which results in unnecessary wastage of water. On an average, RO purifiers produce 3 litres of wastewater for every 1 litre of purified water.

Ultraviolet (UV) purification

This technology uses ultraviolet rays for the purification of water. A UV purifier works by throwing high-intensity UV rays on the water which kills or inactivates the disease-causing bacteria and viruses. However, UV purifiers cannot remove any dissolved or undissolved impurities or chemicals from

water. Because of this, most of the UV purifiers that are available in the market use some form of external sediment pre-filters to remove undissolved impurities and an activated carbon filter to remove chlorine and some dissolved impurities.

UV water purifiers are only recommended for areas where the water source has low level of TDS. If the water has low TDS level but is contaminated with bacteria and viruses and appears muddy, then you can use a UF+UV water purifier.

Ultrafiltration (UF)

Ultrafiltration uses a semi-permeable membrane with much larger pores (approximately 0.01 microns) as compared to an RO (which has very small pores, of approximately 0.0001 microns).

The advantage of UF purifiers is it can work without electricity because the membrane has much larger pores and water can pass through it naturally using the force of gravity. This means no external pressure or water pump is required. Since UF purifiers do not hold back any water, there is no wastage of water.

There are some limitations, though. Because of the larger pore size, UF can only remove undissolved solids and larger impurities. It cannot remove the dissolved solids or reduce the TDS level. So, UF purifiers are not suitable for purification of high TDS water or hard water.

30 •

Get the Right Thinga) RO systems are useful where the TDS levels are above 500 ppm and water hardness is on the higher

side. If the municipal water supply is quite satisfactory and has permissible TDS levels (below 500 ppm), RO purifiers are not required – UV purifiers should be used instead.

b) You may get your water tested. It will help you make a decision based on facts and figures. If the water has a very high amount of magnesium, fluoride, nitrates or calcium salts, RO purifier will be the best for you.

c) If the water supplied at your location is highly contaminated (with microbes, bacteria and virus) and is dirty as well, RO/UF + UV purifiers are the best solution. The UV rays destroy the microbes and the RO/UF filters out their dead bodies and other contaminants.

Gravity-based purifiers (candle filters)

Gravity-based purifiers work on the gravitational force from higher compartment to lower compartment. These are simplest to use and provide the most basic water purification. These filters generally comprise of sediment or sediment + activated carbon filters that can remove large and undissolved impurities like mud and sand along with some chemicals and microorganisms.

There are ceramic candle-based filters with two stainless-steel containers where the upper container is fitted with ceramic candles. The candles are impregnated with a silver solution that acts as a strong repellant against pathogenic bacteria. It is considered to be the safest conventional water filter as per Consumer Voice’s repeated studies.

Although water-purifier makers try to differentiate their products from competitors, most of them actually use a mix of three major purification approaches – reverse osmosis (RO), ultraviolet (UV) and UF (ultrafiltration).

RO Water Purifier UV Water Purifier UF Water Purifier Gravity-Based Purifier (Candle Filter)

Requires electricity to operate

Requires electricity to operate

No electricity required No electricity required

Kills and removes all the bacteria and viruses from the water

Kills all bacteria and viruses but their dead bodies remain in the water

Kills all bacteria and viruses in the water

Removes mud, sand, some bacteria, and microbial cysts

Removes dissolved salts Cannot remove dissolved salts

Cannot remove dissolved salts

Cannot remove dissolved salts

Has a pre-filtration system to work with the dirty water

Water should be clear for UV to work

Works with dirty turbid water

Filter can work with dirty turbid water

Product Survey


The presence of bacteria and pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms is a concern when considering the safety of drinking water. Pathogenic organisms can cause intestinal infections, dysentery, hepatitis, typhoid fever, cholera and other illnesses. Water may also be contaminated with pesticides and arsenic.

What a Waste Otherwise!

A high percentage of water wastage is a major cause for worry. If you are using a RO water purifier at your home or office, you can consider the following options to reuse the wastewater.

a) Test the TDS in the wastewater stream. If the TDS is below 1,000 ppm, you can use the water in your plants.

b) Alternately, mix some of that water with tap water to mop the house. Make sure you dilute it with tap water because if the TDS is high and you use just the RO waste to mop the floor, you may see some salt deposition after the water dries.

c) You can use the wastewater to clean the sewage pipe at home or kitchen because of its saline nature.

d) You can use it to flush toilets.

Water Purifiers

32 •

Note: Price may vary from retailer to retailer. Before buying please check detailed specification on the company’s website and compare the models.

Comparison at a Glance: Of Popular Brands/Models of Water Purifiers

Brand Model Storage capacity (litre)

Technology Water Tank Installation Purification Rate (litre per hour)

Price (Rs) Warrantee (year)

RO Water PurifiersKent Grand Plus 8 RO + UV/UF + TDS Food-grade plastic Wall 20 16,000 1+3

Kent Super Star 7 RO + UV/UF + TDS Wall 15 14,795 1

Pureit Ultima 10 RO + UV Food-grade plastic Wall 16,120 1

Kent Ace Mineral 7 RO + UV +UF Food-grade plastic Wall 15 13,855 1 + 3

Livpure Glo 7 7 RO + UV + mineraliser Food-grade plastic Wall 12 9,500 1

Livpure Smart Touch 8.5 RO + UV + UF + essential minerals Food-grade material 15 17,000 1

Blue Star Majesto 8 RO + UV Food-grade plastic 13,450 1

Aquaguard Geneus Plus 6 RO + UV/RO + UV + UF) Food-grade plastic 15 22,200 1

Pureit Classic 6 RO + UV Food-grade plastic 11,950 1

Pureit Marvella Slim 4 RO + MF Food-grade plastic 9–12 11,600 1

Aquaguard Enhance 7 RO+UV Food-grade plastic Wall/Table 15 19,500 1

Tata Swach Ultima 7 RO+UV Food-grade plastic 19,000 1

Kent Pearl 8 RO + UV / UF ABS food-grade plastic Wall/Table 20 18,000 1 + 3

UV Water PurifiersKent Maxx 7 UV + UF Food-grade plastic Wall 7,000 1

Aquaguard Crystal Plus Non-storage UV Food-grade plastic 7,790 1

Aquaguard Aquasure Aquaflow DX Non-storage UV 2 litres/minute 5,490 1

Kent Ultra Non-storage UV Wall 60 6,100 1

Blue Star Pristina Non-storage UV Food-grade plastic 6,700 1

Non-Electric Purifiers

Tata Swach 7.5 Gravity-based Tabletop 1,250 6 months

Pureit Classic Gravity-based Tabletop 2,500 6 months

Aquaguard Aquasure Amrit Gravity-based Tabletop 1,950 6 months

Prestige Clean Home 10 Gravity-based Tabletop 1,650

Kent Gold Smart 7 UF 4,390 1 month

Product Survey


Comparison at a Glance: Of Popular Brands/Models of Water Purifiers

Brand Model Storage capacity (litre)

Technology Water Tank Installation Purification Rate (litre per hour)

Price (Rs) Warrantee (year)

RO Water PurifiersKent Grand Plus 8 RO + UV/UF + TDS Food-grade plastic Wall 20 16,000 1+3

Kent Super Star 7 RO + UV/UF + TDS Wall 15 14,795 1

Pureit Ultima 10 RO + UV Food-grade plastic Wall 16,120 1

Kent Ace Mineral 7 RO + UV +UF Food-grade plastic Wall 15 13,855 1 + 3

Livpure Glo 7 7 RO + UV + mineraliser Food-grade plastic Wall 12 9,500 1

Livpure Smart Touch 8.5 RO + UV + UF + essential minerals Food-grade material 15 17,000 1

Blue Star Majesto 8 RO + UV Food-grade plastic 13,450 1

Aquaguard Geneus Plus 6 RO + UV/RO + UV + UF) Food-grade plastic 15 22,200 1

Pureit Classic 6 RO + UV Food-grade plastic 11,950 1

Pureit Marvella Slim 4 RO + MF Food-grade plastic 9–12 11,600 1

Aquaguard Enhance 7 RO+UV Food-grade plastic Wall/Table 15 19,500 1

Tata Swach Ultima 7 RO+UV Food-grade plastic 19,000 1

Kent Pearl 8 RO + UV / UF ABS food-grade plastic Wall/Table 20 18,000 1 + 3

UV Water PurifiersKent Maxx 7 UV + UF Food-grade plastic Wall 7,000 1

Aquaguard Crystal Plus Non-storage UV Food-grade plastic 7,790 1

Aquaguard Aquasure Aquaflow DX Non-storage UV 2 litres/minute 5,490 1

Kent Ultra Non-storage UV Wall 60 6,100 1

Blue Star Pristina Non-storage UV Food-grade plastic 6,700 1

Non-Electric Purifiers

Tata Swach 7.5 Gravity-based Tabletop 1,250 6 months

Pureit Classic Gravity-based Tabletop 2,500 6 months

Aquaguard Aquasure Amrit Gravity-based Tabletop 1,950 6 months

Prestige Clean Home 10 Gravity-based Tabletop 1,650

Kent Gold Smart 7 UF 4,390 1 month

After-Sales Service and AMCAll water-purifier brands offer after-sales service. However, it depends on various factors such as availability of service centres in your city, accessibility to spare parts, and so on. Most brands also offer regular AMC (annual maintenance contract) services. The rates depend on various factors. Usually, it is in the range of around Rs 4,000 per annum.

Try to get hold of customer reviews and ratings of the water purifier before purchasing it. This will give you a better idea about the product and the quality of the after-sales service because the customer has already used that product.

Water Purifiers

34 •

It’s the cheapest type of insurance but it’s also a no-return plan—just like your medi-claim or car insurance cover. Points that can put you in two minds about buying one in the first place. However, a close study will most likely persuade you that the pros outweigh the cons, depending of course on the safety net that you and your family require, your standard of living, and your planned investments and expenses. It also helps to remember that life insurance is not about investing your money to earn a return on it; it’s essentially about financial protection for you and those who matter to you. Back in 2014 (August issue), Consumer Voice had published a report and comparative assessment of 13 term insurance plans. We revisit the subject here focusing on plans that are also available online. Up for comparison on crucial parameters are 11 plans. Minimum and maximum policy term, minimum and maximum sum assured, and claim-settlement ratio are among the parameters that these plans have been assessed on.

subas tiwari & Gopal Ravi Kumar

term Insurance Plans Large cover at low cost

In the NewsBFSI


In the NewsTerm Insurance Plans

CV RECOMMENDATIONS

Best Buy

Max Life (Online Term Plan)

Good Buy

Tata AIA Life (Sampoorna Raksha)

Fair Buy

LIC (e-Term)

As mentioned, for the comparative study we have chosen only those companies that offer their term insurance plan ‘online’ as well. Accordingly, we

shortlisted 11 plans based on product offer (gathered from their websites/brochures) and services rendered (feedback from consumers).

The parameters on which we have compared them include sum assured, policy term, minimum and maximum entry age, premium payment modes, claim-settlement ratio and rider benefit. We gave the highest weightage (25 points) to consumer feedback, which also helped in determining the most important and beneficial variables. These variables have a direct bearing on the product structure.

36 •

Notes:

a) Information given here has been sourced from the companies’ websites and brochures as on 13-08-2018.

b) For the purpose of symmetric product comparison, we have excluded those term insurance companies that (i) do not offer policies online and (ii) those whose claim-settlement ratio is less than 85%.

c) # Claims to paid benefit amount ratio is as per IRDA Annual Report 2016–17.

d) NS: Not specified

e) Y-yearly, HY-half-yearly, Q-quarterly, M-monthly, S-single

f) *In view of total negative responses received from the product users, we have not allotted any points for consumer feedback and these products are also not taken into account for the purposes of the ranking. They retain their product points only.

ONLINE TERM INSURANCE PLANS: A COMPARATIVE CHART

In the NewsBFSI

CV Weightage Points (100) 5 10 15 10 5 10 5 5 10 25

Total (100)Company Product

Minimum entry age (years)

Maximum entry age (years)

Minimum sum assured

(Rs, in lakh)

Maximum sum assured (Rs, in lakh)

Minimum policy term (in years)

Maximum policy term (in years)

Premium payment modes

Rider benefit

Claim-settlement ratio

(in %)#

Consumer feedback

Max Life Insurance Online Term Plan 18 (3) 60 (4) 25 (9) 10000 (5) 10 (2) 40 (7) Y/HY/Q/M (5) Yes (5) 94.20 (10) 16 66

Tata AIA Life Insurance Sampoorna Raksha 18 (3) 70 (10) 50 (5) No Limit (10) 10 (2) 40 (7) Y/HY/Q/M (5) No (0) 90.10 (7) 15 64

Life Insurance Corporation of India

e-Term 18 (3) 60 (4) 25 (9) No Limit (10) 10 (2) 35 (4) Y (2) No (0) 95.72 (10) 18 62

SBI Life Insurance Poorna Suraksha 18 (3) 65 (7) 20 (12) 250 (5) 10 (2) 30 (4) Y/HY/M (4) Yes (5) 85.73 (4) 12 58

IDBI Federal Life Insurance iSurance Flexi Term 18 (3) 60 (4) 50 (5) 3000 (5) 10 (2) 62 (10) Y/HY/Q/M (5) Yes (5) 87.37 (4) 13 56

Kotak Life Insurance Kotak e-Term 18 (3) 65 (7) 25 (9) NS (0) 5 (5) 40 (7) S/Y/M (4) Yes (5) 85.67 (4) 12 56

Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance

DigiShield Plan 18 (3) 65 (7) 30 (5) NS (0) 5 (5) 40 (7) Y/HY/Q/M (5) No (0) 90.80 (7) 11 50

Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance

I Select Term Plan 18 (3) 70 (10) 25 (9) NS (0) 5 (5) 40 (7) Y/M (3) No (0) 94.02 (10) 0 * 47

Exide Life InsuranceElite Term

Insurance Plan21 (5) 60 (4) 50 (5) No Limit (10) 5 (5) 35 (4) Y/M (3) No (0) 91.16 (7) 0 * 43

Bharti AXA Life Insurance Flexi Term 18 (3) 65 (7) 10 (15) NS (0) 10 (2) 25 (2) Y/HY/Q/M (5) Yes (5) 86.60 (4) 0 * 43

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance

iProtect Smart 18 (3) 65 (7) NS (0) NS (0) NS (0) NS (0) S/Y/HY/M (5) Yes (5) 89.43 (4) 14 38

‘Why should I keep paying for a product that does not give anything in return?’ is a common question that people ask insurance advisors. Not everyone can appreciate the fact that one pays a premium because there is a guarantee that if something happens to him or her, their family will get maybe over 100 times of the premium that one is paying now.

In the unfortunate event of one’s death, the term insurance plan gives the immediate family a sufficient amount to maintain their standard of living. The payout can also fund your child’s education, help pay off debts, and so on.

Count the Advantages

a) It’s simple to understand.

b) Premium amount is cheapest if you buy the plan at the earliest age (of entry).


ONLINE TERM INSURANCE PLANS: A COMPARATIVE CHART

CV Weightage Points (100) 5 10 15 10 5 10 5 5 10 25

Total (100)Company Product

Minimum entry age (years)

Maximum entry age (years)

Minimum sum assured

(Rs, in lakh)

Maximum sum assured (Rs, in lakh)

Minimum policy term (in years)

Maximum policy term (in years)

Premium payment modes

Rider benefit


(in %)#

Consumer feedback

Max Life Insurance Online Term Plan 18 (3) 60 (4) 25 (9) 10000 (5) 10 (2) 40 (7) Y/HY/Q/M (5) Yes (5) 94.20 (10) 16 66

Tata AIA Life Insurance Sampoorna Raksha 18 (3) 70 (10) 50 (5) No Limit (10) 10 (2) 40 (7) Y/HY/Q/M (5) No (0) 90.10 (7) 15 64

Life Insurance Corporation of India

e-Term 18 (3) 60 (4) 25 (9) No Limit (10) 10 (2) 35 (4) Y (2) No (0) 95.72 (10) 18 62

SBI Life Insurance Poorna Suraksha 18 (3) 65 (7) 20 (12) 250 (5) 10 (2) 30 (4) Y/HY/M (4) Yes (5) 85.73 (4) 12 58

IDBI Federal Life Insurance iSurance Flexi Term 18 (3) 60 (4) 50 (5) 3000 (5) 10 (2) 62 (10) Y/HY/Q/M (5) Yes (5) 87.37 (4) 13 56

Kotak Life Insurance Kotak e-Term 18 (3) 65 (7) 25 (9) NS (0) 5 (5) 40 (7) S/Y/M (4) Yes (5) 85.67 (4) 12 56

Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance

DigiShield Plan 18 (3) 65 (7) 30 (5) NS (0) 5 (5) 40 (7) Y/HY/Q/M (5) No (0) 90.80 (7) 11 50

Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance

I Select Term Plan 18 (3) 70 (10) 25 (9) NS (0) 5 (5) 40 (7) Y/M (3) No (0) 94.02 (10) 0 * 47

Exide Life InsuranceElite Term

Insurance Plan21 (5) 60 (4) 50 (5) No Limit (10) 5 (5) 35 (4) Y/M (3) No (0) 91.16 (7) 0 * 43

Bharti AXA Life Insurance Flexi Term 18 (3) 65 (7) 10 (15) NS (0) 10 (2) 25 (2) Y/HY/Q/M (5) Yes (5) 86.60 (4) 0 * 43

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance

iProtect Smart 18 (3) 65 (7) NS (0) NS (0) NS (0) NS (0) S/Y/HY/M (5) Yes (5) 89.43 (4) 14 38

c) It gives you maximum life cover with minimal premium payment as compared to other forms of insurance.

d) In case of an untimely death, dependents will receive the benefit amount on filing the claim with supporting documents.

e) You have the option of customizing term life insurance with the addition of riders, such as child benefit/accidental death benefit/critical illness benefit (on payment of additional premium).

f) Another popular feature of term insurance is premium return. Some plans offer to return the premiums paid by the policyholder if he/she survives (as of now, only some insurance companies are offering this).

Take Note

• A couple of insurance companies are offering premium return as an optional cover.

• One insurance company is offering AIDS coverage too.

• Another insurance company is offering a lump sum on death plus a regular monthly income for a certain number of years, in addition to increasing the regular monthly income each year by a certain percentage (more than 6%).

•Special rate is being offered for non-tobacco users and women.

•Some companies are offering in-built critical illness benefit within the fixed premium.


38 •

But Know the Limitations

a) If the insured person happens to outlive the tenure of the policy, all of the amount paid in the form of premiums will be forfeited without any benefits to the insured or to his/her family. Essentially, all the premiums will go down the drain, except for the tax benefits that he/she would have availed on the amount paid as premium.

b) There is one major hurdle that prevents more number of people from purchasing a term insurance plan – it is that it tends to create a mental block as it deals with the death of the person taking the policy. Think about it, though. The rationale behind buying car insurance is exactly the same as that for buying a term insurance plan!

c) Consumers resort to consulting their agent as they either do not have the time to go through lengthy write-ups (offline or online) or believe that the agent is the best person to guide them on the product. However, it is extremely important that one is aware of the features of the various insurance plans, so they can choose the one best suited for their circumstances, needs and plans. It also helps to remember that some agents may actually be pushing insurance products that get them higher commissions.

d) Term insurance provides coverage only for a limited period of time.

e) Premium rates are guaranteed only until the end of the term. Depending on the policy, premiums may be static for a period of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years, and then cease without any renewal option. If you want a new plan after that, it may be at a higher premium rate.

f) Deteriorating health can trap you in a policy with rapidly increasing premiums (loading).

g) No insurance company offers term insurance to those over 70 years of age (age of entry).

In the NewsBFSI

Lessons for Lifea) Be sure to give correct and verifiable information.

b) Opt for a policy that assures you premium return if death does not take place and you survive the policy term.

c) Opt for critical illness and accident benefits even if additional premium becomes payable.

d) The criterion should be to go for higher sum assured rather than choosing to pay a comparatively lower premium amount.

h) No term insurance plan exists for those less than 18 years of age (age of entry).

i) No surrender value (for regular policy) or loan or survivor benefit is available under this policy.

A Word of CautionMany a time, people just fill in their name, age/date of birth, address, and Aadhaar/PAN number, leaving the rest of the details to be uploaded by the insurance agent. Remember that you are the best person to fill in your personal details. Any wrong information, which you may think is a negligible factor now, can be pointed out later by the insurer to find a reason for rejection of claim in favour of the nominee/legal heirs.


How much premium to pay?

Example 1

For a healthy non-smoking male

Age: 30 years (as on the date of entry)

Term insurance (life cover) face value: Rs 5,000,000

Policy term (maximum): 45 years

Annual premium: Rs 6,713

(A life cover equivalent to 10–15 times of your annual income is considered sufficient to provide a safe cover.)

Example 2

For a healthy non-smoking male

Age: 35 years (as on the date of entry)

Term insurance (life cover) face value: Rs.10,000,000 (Rs 1 crore)

Policy term (maximum): 40 years

Annual premium: Rs 14,924

(A life cover equivalent to 10–15 times of your annual income is considered sufficient to provide a safe cover.)

Terminologies, Technicalities, etc.

Life insured

This refers to the person who takes the policy from a life insurance company.

Policy term

This covers the number of years for which the life insured wants to cover his/her life.

Premium modes

Premiums can be made in one single payment (lump sum) or can be made on yearly, half-yearly, quarterly or monthly basis.


This gives us an idea about the claim-solving ability of the insurance company. If claims are intimated and the insurance company settles those, claim-settlement ratio will be good. In simple words – claim-settlement ratio is the number of claims settled by the insurance company out of every hundred claims it has received. A higher claim-settlement ratio implies that the majority of claims are getting settled.

Rider benefit (add-on covers)

Some insurance companies offer additional benefits for temporary/permanent total disability, critical illnesses, etc., on payment of additional premium.


40 •

In the NewsBFSI

One can go online and calculate the premium, and then start the process of buying the policy. Details that need to be submitted include name, age, tenure, sum assured and medical information, all of which can affect the premium. After you get a premium quote, you can make the payment online.

Based on the given information, the insurer can decide if the proposer will have to appear for a medical test. If there is anything in the medical examination that can affect the premium (and consequently increase the company’s risk of insuring), the insurer can increase the premium (loading) or choose not to offer the policy.

Advantages of Doing It Online

For the insurance company

• Less paperwork to be handled by the backup department of the insurance company

• Direct dealing with the proposer/insured person

• Minimum operating costs incurred

• Receiving quick online payment

• Fast underwriting

Insurance companies extend cheaper premiums on term policies purchased online as it saves them a lot of paperwork and the physical labour of verifying the documents.

For the insured person

• No physical visits to the insurance company office

• Space to choose a suitable policy

• Quick receipt of online policy document

• Cheaper premium amount

• No need to submit physical documents unless called for


BFSI Guide

Readers are aware that the Consumer Voice BFSI Desk has been bringing out articles on banking, financial services and insurance matters every month. We are now extending this domain to cover advice, guidance and assistance to consumers on financial matters.

You may approach us with any financial grievance that you have or if you need advice on investment options/financial planning.

We have put up a dedicated landline for easy access to us (011-47331004; ask for Subas Tiwari at BFSI Desk). You may also email us at [email protected]

Consumer Voice Finance Helpline

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42 •

“there is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supersedes all other courts.”

~ Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

What if you have won your case in the consumer forum but the opposite party does not care to respond to the jury’s order, and does not pay up the ordered compensation or provide relief to you? Does it become a case of malicious intent on their part? What are the options before you, or for that matter, even before the opposite party?

– Dr Prem Lata, Consumer Awakening Former Member, CDRF-Delhi

submitting ‘execution’ Petition at Consumer Court Is there a timeline?

In such cases, it becomes necessary to invoke another provision under Consumer Protection Act. One has to file a plea before the consumer court for ‘execution’ of the order, whereby the

opposite party is forced by the law to obey the orders. The accused is monetarily penalized, their properties can be attached, or they can be imprisoned even, for not conforming to the decision of the court.

Interestingly, even the accused can reach out to the consumer forum for revision of the execution plea if they have doubts about the legality or correctness of the execution plea. Here we revisit one such case that was discussed and decided at the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum.

Appealing after 12 Years

A bench comprising Justice DK Jain, president of the forum, and M Shreesha heard the matter between JH Phalle and Vijaya Poduval and others wherein an execution appeal had been filed at the National Consumer Forum against the order of Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. This appeal had been filed by the managing director of real estate

company Jaysheel Housing Complex, questioning the legality and correctness of the order passed by the state commission. This developer had failed to comply with the order that was given by the forum way back in 2002 and requested revision of the order only in 2014. By then, one of the complainants had died without relief.

The term ‘execution’, has not been defined in the code. The expression, however, simply means the process for enforcing or giving effect to the judgement of the court.

The case and the order

As the developer had failed to provide the committed property to the complainant, the state forum in its order directed the collector, Raigad district, to take appropriate steps for recovery of the amounts to be refunded to the complainants.

Objections filed by developer after 12 years

a) Recovery certificate had been computed on yearly compounded basis, whereas the direction in the final order of the court had asked for payment of simple interest at 18 per cent annually.

b) One of the complainants had died during the

Legal Matters


Legal Matters

pendency of the complaint, so the decree sought to be enforced in his favour was null and void.

The decision

As the execution application was filed after 12 years from the date of the final order, it was barred by limitation and dismissed from being entertained by the forum.

The bench’s statement

“It would be travesty of justice to non-suit complainants/decree holders on hyper technical ground. In view of the above, we decline to entertain the appeal keeping open the question of limitation, sought to be raised in this appeal. Consequently, the appeal is dismissed, leaving the parties to bear their own costs.”

Firstly, on the first issue of compounding interest rate raised by the appellant, the bench held that “...if that be so, it will be open to the parties to have the said issue resolved before the executing court (state forum in this case).”

On the issue of death of one of the complainants during the pendency of the complaint, which according to appellant made the order null and void, the court held, “We may note that the complaint was contested on behalf of the appellant and no objection with regard to abatement qua a particular complainant had been raised on its behalf. It would be travesty of justice to non-suit complainants/decree holders on hyper technical ground dismissing the plea of appellants.”

The case of unaddressed timeline

The aforementioned case is often discussed

because although dismissed later, the plea had been somehow accepted in the first place by the National Commission for hearing. More so, when this order (and more such orders and verdicts) is read carefully, from one issue to another, one finds that the Commission has not given any verdict as yet on ‘limitation of time’ for filing execution pleas.

Other Verdicts where Timeline Was Not Considered

In the matter of SC Galhotra versus The Mohali Bank and others, the execution appeal was filed in September 2010 by the Haryana State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. The question raised was whether the execution application was maintainable considering that the registrar, Cooperative Societies, Punjab, was on leave and the respondent, The Mohali Bank, had been brought under winding up (liquidation) and an official liquidator had been appointed.

In this case, application for execution was filed after more than eight years and was accepted by the court.

In the matter of Prem Chandra Varshney versus Murarilal Sharma and others, heard in September 2007, a reference was made to Clause IV of Regulation 14 (1) to underline the issue of timeline.

Point VIII in sections 15, 19 and 24A reads: “The period of limitation for filing any application, for which no period of limitation has been specified in the Act, the rules of these regulations shall be thirty days from the date of the cause of action or the date of knowledge.” However, the National Commission states that the plain reading of said Regulation 14 (1) (iv) shows that it will not apply to execution proceedings. Consumer Protection Act, 1986, does not provide for any limitation period for filing execution application.

In certain other cases, the National Commission has observed that while filing execution petition after years serves no purpose, the call should be made depending upon the nature of the order and circumstances of the case at the time the order is passed. In some vehicle-purchase cases, for example, it has been found that an order to change the defective vehicle with a new one or refund money after returning vehicle to the company becomes non-executable after a lapse of time. Similarly, in vehicle-insurance cases, an order for repair does not serve any purpose after a lapse of time since the vehicle condition deteriorates.

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