Centre expands 'Bharat' brand to include chana whole and masur dal
New Delhi, Oct 23: The Centre on Wednesday expanded its subsidised pulses programme, adding chana whole and masur dal under the 'Bharat' brand in a bid to check rising prices.
Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, who launched Phase II of the initiative, said chana whole will be retailed at Rs 58 per kg and masur dal at Rs 89 per kg through cooperative networks NCCF, NAFED, and Kendriya Bhandar.
"We're offloading our buffer stock maintained under the Price Stabilisation Fund at subsidised rates," Joshi said.
The government has allocated 3 lakh tonnes of chana and 68,000 tonnes of moong to the cooperatives.
Ministers of State for Food and Consumers Affairs B L Verma and Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya were present at the launch.
NCCF Managing Director Anice Chandra Joseph said distribution will initially begin in Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, with nationwide expansion planned within 10 days.
"Chana whole has been added under the subsidised sale programme as there is a huge demand for it. We are in talks with e-commerce platforms and retail outlets to enhance accessibility," she added.
The move follows October 2023's Phase I launch, which covered chana dal, moong dal, and moong sabut, along with rice and wheat flour.
Current rates under Phase I stand at Rs 30/kg for wheat flour (up from Rs 27.50), Rs 34/kg for rice (up from Rs 29), Rs 70/kg for chana dal (up from Rs 60), while moong dal and moong sabut remain at Rs 107/kg and Rs 93/kg, respectively.
The government is also maintaining price interventions for onion at Rs 35/kg and tomato at Rs 65/kg.
The Union Minister hoped for better pulse output this year as the government hiked the support prices of pulses substantially.
Launched the retail sale vans for Bharat Chana Dal (MRP Rs. 70/kg), Bharat Moong Dal (MRP Rs. 107/kg), and Bharat Masur Dal (MRP Rs. 89/kg) for residents of Delhi/NCR at Krishi Bhawan. This initiative, led by @jagograhakjago, aims to reduce the burden of rising pulse prices on… pic.twitter.com/LIws5sFGoX
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) October 23, 2024
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Pizza Hut China debuts unusual bullfrog pizza, sparking mixed reactions online
Beijing : Pizza Hut China has taken a bold step into culinary experimentation by introducing a limited-edition pizza topped with deep-fried bullfrog, a move that has garnered both curiosity and criticism online. The unconventional dish was first highlighted by global food trend expert David Henke, who shared a photo of the new menu item on X (formerly Twitter), noting the diverse protein preferences in different cultures.
The pizza, known as "Goblin Pizza," features a thick crust, red sauce, a layer of parsley, and a whole deep-fried bullfrog as the centerpiece. The frog's "eyes" are created with halved hard-boiled eggs, each topped with a black olive, making for a visually striking presentation. According to Korean news outlet Maeil Business Newspaper, the unusual offering is a collaboration with Dungeons and Dragons, inspired by a character from the game.
Details about the availability of this new creation are limited, with no specific information provided on Pizza Hut’s official website. However, the quirky menu item has already become a talking point on social media, drawing a mix of reactions ranging from shock to curiosity.
On Reddit, a photo of the pizza was shared, fueling further debate. Some users labeled the dish as “pure blasphemy,” while one user went so far as to say, “This pizza is a felony.” Another asked, “Why ruin a pizza like that?”
Not all feedback was negative; one commenter admitted that while the frog might be off-putting, they'd be more accepting if the pizza underneath was satisfactory. Another joked, "You can ribbet this right into the garbage."
Amidst the critique, there were voices of intrigue. One foodie defended the dish, saying, “Fried frog legs are so good! Maybe next time, shred the frog leg meat and add it to the pizza—that would be pretty good.”
