Twenty-two percent of Pani Puri sold in Karnataka failed FSSAI tests for containing carcinogenic chemicals like brilliant blue, sunset yellow, and tartrazine. Out of 260 samples, 41 were contaminated, and 18 were unfit for consumption. The government has promised to take strict action against those responsible to safeguard public health.

Sanitation workers held a protest outside the Municipal Corporation office in Sector 68 on Friday against the ongoing garbage disposal crisis plaguing the city. They accused and protested against the authorities of politicising the issue and harassing residents, the workers dumped garbage in front of the office while raising slogans against the Punjab government, mayor and municipal commissioner. Mohan Singh, state vice-president of the Sanitation Workers’ Union, said, “Politics is being played over Mohali’s garbage issue. The MLA and the mayor are from different parties, and the residents of Mohali are suffering as a result of their political conflict.” He added, “Sanitation workers are segregating up to 85% of the waste at Resource Management Centres (RMCs). Of the total 200 tonnes of daily waste, 50% is wet waste, and 25% consists of cardboard, bottles and similar items, which sanitation workers manage themselves. The remaining 25%, including diapers, plastic bags and wraps, is around 10-15 tonnes daily. Despite this, the authorities lack infrastructure and mechanism to manage this waste effectively.”

The Zika virus, spread by mosquitoes like those carrying dengue and chikungunya, infected a doctor and his daughter in Pune. Symptoms include rash, fever, and joint pain lasting up to 7 days. There's no specific treatment or vaccine, so preventing mosquito bites with repellent and nets is crucial.

Novel fruits, known as Black Plums or Indian Black Cherry in India, are tall roadside trees native to India and the East Indies, also found in Thailand, Philippines, and other countries. They aid in immunity, regulate blood sugar, and have medicinal leaves. Overconsumption may lead to low blood sugar, constipation, skin issues, and nausea.

MonsoonUpdate: IMD forecasts the Southwest Monsoon will spread to more regions in the next 3-4 days. Red alert: heavy rain in Gujarat. Orange alert: heavy rain in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya. #HeatwaveAlert for Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar, Rajasthan.

At the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sports Complex in Katra on Friday, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department commemorated the 10th International Yoga Day.

Ninety-eight Indian pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia during the annual Hajj pilgrimage this year, the government announced on Friday. The Hajj period, which extends from May 9 to July 22, saw 175,000 Indians travelling to Makkah. The Ministry of External Affairs reported that the deaths were primarily due to natural causes, including chronic illnesses and old age. Among the deceased, six pilgrims died on the Day of Arafat, a significant day in the Hajj pilgrimage, and four deaths were accident-related. In a statement, the government assured that every effort is being made to support the Indian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. The Union Health Ministry also released a document outlining the health services available to pilgrims and the process for accessing these services. Globally, about 1,081 deaths have been reported among pilgrims from around ten different countries.

Indulging in whisky is a leisurely affair, quite distinct from the time-sensitive nature of wine consumption. Unlike wine, there’s no rush to finish an opened whisky bottle within a set timeframe. Yet, a pertinent question arises: Does whisky have an expiration date, especially after you’ve poured your first dram and returned it to the confines of your bar cabinet? In brief, yes, whisky does have a shelf life after being opened, contingent on the level of liquid remaining in the bottle. The interaction of whisky with oxygen triggers oxidation, ultimately leading to its expiration. The volume of whisky in the bottle plays a crucial role, with a fuller bottle minimizing the ingress of oxygen, and preserving the spirit, whereas an emptier bottle increases the risk of oxidation. The longevity of an opened bottle of whisky is intricately tied to its fill level. If the bottle is at least half-full, the whisky remains enjoyable for one or two years. However, as the liquid depletes, with only a quarter or less remaining, the expiration clock accelerates to around six months, as per insights from The Tasting Table. Upon unsealing, the alcohol content can decrease due to ethanol evaporation, altering the taste profile. For example, the extended exposure of rich, peated scotch whiskies to air diminishes their intensity over time.

An X user's post on how detergent was used to make milk look whiter and frothier has opened Pandora's box on social media with several other users joining in to share their experiences with adulterated food. It all started when an entrepreneur Ram (@ramprasad_c) -- who was into manufacturing liquid detergent -- recalled what one of his sales executives told him in 2005. "On food safety in India, here is a story that shocked me. Many years ago, I launched a new liquid detergent while working at a large company. One of the sales guys came up to me and said, he’d have sold a lot more if the fragrance wasn’t so strong," Ram wrote. When asked if any customer had given any feedback regarding the fragrance, the sales executive said that a lot of people bought liquid detergents to add to milk. Apparently, it made the milk look whiter and frothier. He also claimed that a rival company had a similar product with a mild fragrance and that such customers preferred to use it instead. "I told the guy we aren’t changing the product. I stopped consuming lassi, and yoghurt from those markets after that," Ram said. Another X user shared a similar incident with a friend's peanut candy manufacturing unit. "One of my friends was running a peanut candy factory and the cook who turned out temporarily for work in the place of the permanent one, used to make more peanut candies which were much crispier... On enquiry, my friend came to know that this new cook was adding dishwash liquid to the raw mixture of candies before cooking and that's what made them crispier and the production volume too was higher," wrote Rocky Bhai

Researchers at Mayo Clinic found a possible link between energy drink consumption and sudden cardiac arrest in individuals with genetic heart conditions. They studied 144 survivors of cardiac arrest, noting seven cases where patients had recently consumed energy drinks. While not proving causation, the study urges caution, especially for at-risk individuals.