In the latest update in the ongoing Akshaya Patra Foundation (APF) controversy, a group of academicians and NGOs have written to the National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad (NIN) asking to withdraw the report sent to the Karnataka government about the food quality of the NGO. The letter signed by 10 different NGOs and 94 academicians and activists points out that though the KArnataka government has asked both NIN and the Central Food Technical Research Institute for its technical inputs, CFTRI has asked for sufficient time and resources to do a proper assessment.
"NIN, on the other hand, to our utter shock and dismay, has made sweeping statements praising APF, without carrying out any systematic scientific study. No empirical data was collected on the quantity and quality of ingredients used or amount consumed and amount wasted by children to certify food supplied by APF as nutritionally adequate. Instead, a paper menu submitted by APF, was considered evidence enough to comment on an aspect of the scheme which have nutritional impact on lakhs of children! Even more shockingly, without visiting a single school or speaking to children consuming the food, NIN has taken the unwarranted liberty of commenting on the taste and safety of the food. The eagerness exhibited by NIN to offer opinions in this case, in the absence of any scientific field evaluation, raises serious questions regarding NIN's credibility and independence.
We are therefore dismayed at the unscientific, biased and irresponsible response sent by the Institute through its Director to the request from Government of Karnataka regarding assessment of nutritional value of food supplied by Akshaya Patra Foundation (APF)," states the letter.
“The NIN has sent a report approving everything without proper investigation into the issue. They have not gone to the schools or spoken to any children to assess the situation at the ground level. But they have nonetheless commented on the food. We are appalled that such a noted scientific institute has given an such an unscientific report,” says Bengaluru based Independent researcher Sidharth Joshi, one of the people who has penned the letter.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation has been under scrutiny for months now after several allegations were raised about the quality of the food being served to children through its midday meal program in Karnataka. Others also sought to get the NGO to include garlic and onions in direct opposition to its satvik meals policy.
Though several queries had been raised earlier, the state of Karnataka renewed the foundation’s contract. The NIN had been asked to step in and assess the food quality and submit a report to the government with the details of its analysis.
However, the collective has now written an open letter to the NIN asking for it to withdraw the report and conduct a proper one.
“It usually takes 6 to 8 months to conduct such quality analysis, but the NIN has rushed through it. This is not acceptable,” adds Siddharth.
Sources from the foundation have stated that this is unnecessary scrutinization adding that the foundation has been serving nutritious food, compliant with government standards for years and that no such issues were raised earlier.