Thursday, 30 MAY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday tested 550 food samples on the Badrinath- Kedarnath route to check adulteration in the food items served to pilgrims and tourists during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra. The department conducted tests with the help of a food testing mobile van which will also be used to check samples on routes in Yamunotri and Gangotri. The drive was conducted by teams under the leadership of the deputy commissioner of Garhwal Division Rajendra Singh Rawat. The teams took samples of food items being sold in hotels, restaurants and dhabas on the Yatra routes to ensure pilgrims get only unadulterated foods. The additional commissioner of the FDA Tajber Jaggi said that the department is conducting a special campaign in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts to monitor adulteration in foods and edible products served on Char Dham routes. The department has so far inspected 325 shops out of which, the team found 155 samples suspicious and sent them for testing. Strict action will be taken against the culprits if the samples fail the test. He said that the department has also registered a case against six shopkeepers for selling adulterated goods and food items. The department has also deployed a deputy commissioner and a food safety officer in the mobile van for sample testing on the toll-free Badrinath- Kedarnath route. Jaggi said that the government has also issued a toll free number 180018042 for the general public. If anybody gets information about any kind of adulteration or expired goods being sold, they can lodge their complaint through this number. Meanwhile, the department has also started a campaign in Dehradun against the artificial ripening of fruits using calcium carbide which is banned by the government. The department has also sent nine samples of Papaya, Mango, watermelon and banana for testing, he added.
