According to the definition of "food" which we have extracted above, for the purposes of the Act, any article used as fooo or drink for human consumption and any article which ordinarily enters into or is used in the composition or preparation of human food is "food". It is not necessary that it is intended for human consumption or for preparation of human food. It is also irrelevant that it is described or exhibited as intended for some other use. It is enough if the article is generally or commonly used for human consumption or in the preparation qf human food. It is: µotorious that there are, unfortunately, in our vast country, large segments of population, who, living as they do, far beneath ordinary subsistence level, are ready to consume that which may otherwise be thought as not fit for · human consumption. In order to keep body and soul together, they are often tempted to buy and use as food, articles which are adulterated and even unlit for human consumption but which are sold at inviting prices, under the pretence or without pretence that they are intended to be used for purposes other than human consumption. It is to prevent the exploitation and self-destruction of these poor, ignorant and illiterate persons. that the definition of "food" is couched in such terms as not to take into account whether an article is intended for human consumption or not. In order to be "food" for the purposes of the Act, an rticle need not be "fit" for human consumption; it need not be described or exhibited as intended for human collS'Umption; it may even be otherwise described or exhibited; it need not even be :necessarily intended for human consumption; it is enough if it is generally or commonly U8ed for human consumption or in the preparation of human food. Where an article is generally or commonly not used for human consumptidn or in the preparation. of human food but for some other purpose, notwithstanding that it may be capbfo of being used, on rare occasions, for human consumption or in t11e preparation of human food, it may be said, dependi'ng on the facts and circumstances of the case, that it is not "food". In such a case the question whether it is intended for human consumption or in the prnparation of human food may become material. But where the article is one which is generally or commonly used for human consumption or in the preparation of human food, there can be no question but that the article is "food". Gingelly oil, miired or not with gronnd'.nut oil or some other oil, whether describe<l or . exhibited as an article of food for human consumption or as an article for external use only is "food:' within the meaning of the definitiol<! contained in s. 2(v) .of the Act.
