WHEN it comes to food, any news of contamination tends to go viral and this is especially so when it is alleged that the products in question have been tainted with substances like dung or urine.
A claim that such substances were found in certain brands of spice products made in India has recently gone viral here in Malaysia through a message being forwarded on WhatsApp
Is there any truth to this?
VERDICT:
FALSE
This is actually false, and it was ruled as such by the Delhi High Court in May 2023 when a judge ruled in favour of the manufacturer of "Catch" brand spice products after three videos containing such allegations went viral on YouTube.
In the case, Google was directed to take down the videos uploaded on the TYR and Views NNews channels as the court ruled that it was a "deliberate attempt to defame and disparage" the products manufactured by Dharampal Satyapal Sons Pvt Ltd.
"A perusal of the comments to said YouTube videos show that the public are being influenced and led into believing such false statements, causing grave prejudice to Plaintiff (Dharampal Satyapal Sons Pvt Ltd).
Considering the easy and unrestricted access, there is a high probability that the defamatory videos could be shared/ seen by a large number of unsuspecting members of the public," said Justice Sanjeev Narula.
In the ruling, the High Court said that the bad faith of the two channels was also seen in their inaction when it came to removing the videos after the plaintiff had made a complaint which had been acknowledged by one of the defendants.
"The Plaintiff has placed on record a list of ingredients contained in their products/ spices advertised in the videos.
They have obtained certifications from all concerned regulatory bodies and have even presented reports of an independent food analysis from a certified laboratory, which do not indicate the presence of cow dung, cow urine or any other contaminants as alleged," it said.
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