Tag: Real Juice

Real Juice – worm found again

Posted on by Anand Nepal

After much media cover on the problem with Dabur’s Real Juice in the past, reports of such inedible materials in the juice had stopped for some time. But, it seems they still haven’t rectified the problem. A user in Jhapa found dust and worm in Dabur Real Mango Nectar sold in Sony Kirana Pasal in Damak 11 (Near, Himsikhar TV). The expiry date of the juice was however two month earlier.

It is not clear if the problem occurred because of the expired product or it was tainted in the factory. Whatever may be the case, the government should take proper steps to investigate the issue and discourage the shopkeepers from selling expired pro
ducts.

Real juice – five fainted after drinking the tainted juice

Posted on by Anand Nepal

In a latest news, five people from Kabhrepalanchowk have fainted after drinking Real branded juice. The Dabur Nepal product, Real Juice, has been in the headlines for some time after extensive numbers of quality complaints from all over Nepal.

Naya Patrika writes, the victims are admitted in Shir Memorial Hospital in Banepa. One of the victim, 56 year-old Harikumari Humagain is serious and is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit.

Earlier, there were reports of a police raid and protest in Indian cities on India-Nepal border. The protest was related to on reports that Dabur is
supplying the tainted juice to Indian market.

The police has confiscated the juice packs and is investigating the reason for the illness. (Photo credits Nayapatrika)

Does Nepal need Indian Investment ?

Posted on by Anand Nepal

Foreign investment plays a critical role in the development of a country. In the current age of ‘global village,’ foreign investment is a key to the economy. But, does the foreign investment always bring "good fortune" to a country? Let’s analyze two incidents in Nepal, related to Indian investments.

No Nepali movies in "Big Cinema"

A theater constructed and managed through Indian investment, Big Cinema – considered to be one of the most sophisticated theaters in Nepal, has decided to boycott Nepali movies. The theater located in Kathmandu, Nepal, now onwards will only feature Hindi or English movies. 

According to a film news site, merocinema (screenshot attached), the theaters halted the release of a Nepali movie after receiving a directive from its New Delhi office. The theater management in India told the local management to stop screening Nepali movies in the future too. In a separate news report the theater management was quoted saying – Nepali movies don’t have quality for the theater.

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Rajesh Hamal says, the Real Juice ad. is legal

Posted on by Anand Nepal

Rajesh Hamal has responded to various media reports accusing him to be irresponsible towards the health of general public. The allegation is the result of an advertisement featuring Real Juice. A consumer advocate group had also asked the government to investigate the involvement of Rajesh Hamal, Karishma Manandhar, Dipak Bista, and Min Bahadur Gurung in the advertisement of tainted product.

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Govt asked to investigate Rajesh, Karishma, Dipak and Min over Real juice ad.

Posted on by Anand Nepal

A consumer advocate group has asked the government to investigate the involvement of actor Rajesh Hamal, actress Karishma Manandhar, sportsperson Dipak Bista, and businessman Min Bahadur Gurung for appearing in the advertisements of the controversial drink Real Juice.

It was told that Rajesh Hamal received a whooping Rs. 1.2million to be featured in the ad. That is, 3-4 times the amount he receives for acting in a full movie. Others should have received a smaller but considerable sum to act for the ads.

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Dabur pushing to recapture the lost luster of Real Juice

Posted on by Anand Nepal

In the wake of various reports of non-consumable products in one of the Dabur Nepal’s product, Real Juice, Indian Embassy was worried on its "National interest" in Nepal. Dabur threatened to take back its investment. The issue was more of a tussle between some journalists and Indian Embassy than Dabur or Real Juice.

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Real worms, …again

Posted on by Anand Nepal

The Real Juice, Real Embassy, Dabur Nepal, and Kantipur were center of attraction for for me, for some time. Now, it is Nayapatrika that came out with another version of the same story – extra materials in the juice. The same unanswered questions are being asked:

Why are our kids being fed such non-consumable items ? Why is the government silent on this issue ? (Even, India felt the heat and was talking)

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Kantipur, you owe me (us) an explanation

Posted on by Anand Nepal

[Update: I had written the original post in a hurry so, I have changed some wordings. I hope Kantipur editors will come up with some valid arguments.]

Some people thought that my previous article, Journalism Ethics, Dabur and Miss Nepal, was biased. I want to make myself clear, by telling that, I still believe in the spirit of the article, Indian Embassy – Real Juice – Real motive, and Indian Media, I wrote on August 28. A few points:

  1. Kantipur owes me an explanation. Why didn’t they cover the Miss Nepal event? I am still not convinced Kantipur did something ethical.
  2. Not publishing major news based on one’s personal problem (or, organizational dispute) implies that the Indian Embassy was right in telling our journalists are unethical (even if, it is still baseless).
  3. Am I baised ? Yes, a little bit. Previously, Kantipur writers simply ignored my enquiries through previous articles and emails (on Maya Bazin and Smita Thapa issues). The article was targeted to thick skinned, writers there.

My friend Aakar argued that he thinks Kantipur publication is doing what it should. Dipak Bhattarai and Aakar sent me the link to The Hindu article. It was a very detailed and in-depth analysis of the background of the current problem. I have summarized the articles below:

Excerpts from Nepali Times article.

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Indian Embassy – Real Juice – Real motive, and Indian Media

Posted on by Anand Nepal

‘Real’ Embassy

Indian Embassy accused Nepali media of improperly posting news about the evidence of finding non-consumable materials in Real branded products. The photographs of tainted products published in various newspapers do seem genuine.

Even if Nepali press have exaggerated (which doesn’t seem true) some unanswered question are:

  1. Why does Indian Embassy have to issue a press release in this issue? Is it such a big issue? Does such minor events affect the intergovernmental relations between two countries?
  2. Is Dabur Nepal (or Dabur India) so incapable of defending itself?

Indian Embassy and Nepali Press

There were reports about the tainted products from all over Nepal. Given our media house’s capabilities and dedication, I don’t believe Nepali media can create such a large scaled fabricated story (as Indian Embassy told). And, it was not a single media house that reported the story. Apart from Nayapatrika, Weeklynepal, ABC news, Kantipur, radiomirmire, Pokharatoday, Pokharanews, Yubabahas; a lot of media had published independent news on the issue.

  1. Can Indian Embassy point out which of these media houses they were talking about?

Real worms in Real Juice

The news, photographs, and quotes of general public don’t look fabricated. They are from different sources, involve different people and are from different parts of the country. For example, some of the places from where reports of inconsumable products were reported (collected from different sources):

  1. Kapilvasthu (Badrinath Guesthouse, Chandrauta) – A government official witnessed 20 tainted packets.
  2. Pokhara (Bulaud Bazaar store) – The officials of Dabur Nepal forced the owner to close the shop.
  3. Kathmandu (Mohan Cold Store, Anamnagar) – Sagarmatha TV featured the story.
  4. More reports from different parts of Pokhara
  5. Birgunj – people admitted to hospital after drinking Real juice

Misleading Indian Media Campaign

Various media bodies in Nepal have expressed serious concern over Friday’s statement of Indian embassy.

However, Indian media are doing their own media campaign against Nepali media. (When Embassy itself is that irresponsible, I can’t blame the Indian media!)

Some of the headlines in Indian media:

  1. Dabur faces smear campaign in Nepal
  2. Dabur faces misleading media campaign in Nepal
  3. Indian joint ventures face smear campaign in Nepal

In contrast, Nepali media headlines read:

  1. Media bodies irked by Indian embassy statement; ask it to apologize
  2. Media orgs caution Indian embassy to respect diplomatic norms
  3. सञ्चार संस्थाहरुद्वारा भारतीय दूताबाससँग क्षमायाचना गर्न माग
  4. सञ्चार सगठनहरुद्वारा प्रेस स्वतन्त्रताको मान्यता पालना गर्न भारतीय दूतावासलाई सचेत

Real Worms in Real Juice

Posted on by Anand Nepal

Last month, a consumer of Real Juice, Raju Adhikari, found suspicious material in a juice packet manufactured by Dabur Nepal in Kathmandu.

Sagarmatha TV was called and they took videos and photos of the juice.

The local people and journalists took the defective juice to the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC). The authorities at the government agency refused to do further investigation on it as the packet of the juice was already opened. DFTQC officials went to a nearby store, got a Real Juice packet, tested and gave clean-chit to Dabur. They didn’t care to go to the store, Raju bought the juice, and did the sampling. p>

These days, there are different reports about worms in the juice packets, from different parts of country. It is not known, if the government agency has taken any action to address the issue. (photos courtesy Nayapatrika)