Ice cream or frozen dessert, check before you eat

Ice cream and summers are a classic combination, with the former being most loved for its refreshing and delicious taste. But be cautious before you buy your favourite ice lolly or ice cream. Always buy from a trusted source or ensure its quality before consuming it.

A recent raid by the Health Department on an ice cream manufacturing unit situated in the industrial area, Hambran, Ludhiana, revealed alarming levels of uncleanliness and unhygienic food preparation practices.

“The working environment of the factory was found to be filthy, cluttered with waste and lacking basic sanitation, raising serious concerns regarding consumer health and safety. Houseflies and uncovered raw materials were found at the unit, and even some ice-cream flavours were found expired, which were destroyed by the team. The challan for unhygienic conditions was issued to the ice-cream unit,” said District Health Officer Amarjit Kaur.

As the ice cream sales soar during summer, so the Health Department will conduct regular inspections in the coming days. People should buy ice cream from a trusted vendor and can also check its authenticity with simple tests before eating, she added.

Ice cream can be a source of food-borne illness if prepared or stored unhygienically. Unpasteurised milk, improper handling and contamination during production can introduce harmful bacteria like listeria monocytogenes, staphylococcus aureus, salmonella, shigella, and e.coli. Many times ice-cream makers have been found using detergent powder in creams to create a creamy texture. Consumption of such adulterated products can result in digestive issues like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, said a city-based gastroenterologist.

City resident Aakansha Malhotra said that she had stopped buying ice cream from the market when she got terribly ill after consuming the frozen dessert. “It takes little effort and one can easily prepare ice cream at home. Today, so many videos are uploaded on Instagram and YouTube from where one can take inspiration,” she said.

Check before you eat

A real ice cream should have a smooth, creamy texture, relatively firm and should take some effort to scoop. If it melts too quickly or has a gritty, icy texture, it might not be real ice cream. If you squeeze lemon juice on the ice cream and it foams, it might contain detergents, indicating adulteration. A real ice cream often uses natural flavours and colours, resulting in subtle shades. If the ice cream tastes overly sweet or artificial, it might not be the real one.

In recent times there have been a lot of debate around ice cream and frozen desserts. Well, ice cream and frozen desserts are both cold, frozen and sweet, but they differ in their ingredients and manufacturing processes. Ice cream is typically made with milk and milk solids, while frozen desserts use vegetable oils or fats instead. Always check the label to ensure if you are buying an ice cream or frozen dessert.

Health