PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) is conducting a special campaign across the State to check food adulteration during the festive season. The Health secretary and FDA commissioner R Rajesh Kumar said that ensuring that the general public gets pure and safe food material is a top priority for the government. He directed officials in all the districts to ensure strict action against those found guilty of adulteration and negligence in food related business.
A special checking campaign was conducted in Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Almora, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Champawat in the Kumaon region. About 200 food samples were collected for testing and more than 100 kilogrammes of improper food items were seized and destroyed during this special drive. A total of 252 establishments were inspected and necessary legal action was taken against the owners found guilty. In addition to this, food safety related training was also provided to about 180 businessmen in the food-related trades. Public awareness meets were held involving traders and local business organisations considering the ongoing festival of Navratri.
Large scale inspections and sampling were conducted in the Garhwal region on September 27. According to officials, eight inspections were conducted in Uttarkashi district and two samples were collected while two inspections were conducted in Tehri, three in Rudraprayag and four in Chamoli. Similarly, three inspections were conducted in Dehradun district and two samples were collected. Eighteen inspections were conducted at Srinagar in Pauri district where 11 samples were also collected. In the Haridwar district, a joint team of FDA and police raided Nanheda Anantpur village in Bhagwanpur where trader Alim confessed that he makes Paneer using milk powder and Vanaspati while also using acid to solidify it. Considering the serious health risk posed by such products, the offficials collected two samples of Paneer and one milk sample for laboratory tests while further action against the establishment is under process.
The Health secretary warned that those indulging in food adulteration during the festive season will not be spared by the authorities. The authorities will continue the campaign against adulteration across the State and ensure strict action against those found guilty.
