Ferozepur, October 24, 2016: Ahead of festival celebrations in the district, the Health Department have intensified efforts and are carrying out visits to various food shops and raids were carried out in various areas today.
In one such rain, about 1.5 qtl sweet – milk cake – of spurious quality was destroyed besides sending the samples to the laboratory for analysis, claimed Food Inspector, Dhillon. He, however, assured that no adulterated material would be allowed to be sold in the market. The food establishments across the city were, however, asked to maintain cleanliness and ensure that pure foods were used in creating sweets and other items. It was also reiterated that no artificial colouring should be used in food because these cause various diseases. The shopkeepers were also asked to only use the pure silver ‘vark’ coating on food items as aluminium or other metal varieties play a havoc with people’s health. The FSO told shopkeepers to make sure that they used gloves and kept their heads covered while preparing items.
Even though the sampling process is on but the Health Department has not been able to seize or recovery any big cache of adulterated or spurious sweets or eatables during the festival season as is done every year despite the fact that traditionally, the traffic of adulterated food items increases in the festival season every year.
On the other hand, the shopkeeper claimed that he is not the manufacturer of the product and he is selling in the market after bringing from Moga a city about 55 KMs from Ferozepur.
Accusing the Health Department, NGOs representative said, it is not understood as to why the Health Department comes into action during the festival season only. It would be better if the sampling is done throughout the year.
The Health Department official could not tell the exact number of samples taken during the year, its result and action thereon.