Food Safety Wing launches festive season drive; Public urged to buy food only from Licensed Vendors
Ferozepur, August 6, 2026: With the festive season approaching, the Food Safety Wing of the Health Department, Ferozepur, has launched a special awareness and enforcement campaign to ensure the availability of safe and hygienic food products in the district. The department has appealed to consumers, shopkeepers and Food Business Operators (FBOs) to remain vigilant while purchasing, selling and consuming food items.
The campaign is being carried out under the directions of the Punjab Health Minister, the guidance of Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, Punjab, Ms. Kanwalpreet Brar, and the instructions of the Civil Surgeon and District Health Officer (DHO), Ferozepur. As part of the drive, Food Safety teams are conducting regular inspections, collecting food samples and initiating legal action wherever violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 are detected.
Food Safety Officer Abhinav Khosla said that the demand for sweets, milk, paneer, khoa, ghee, curd, butter, spices and other food products rises sharply during the festive season, increasing the possibility of adulterated or substandard food entering the market.
He urged the public to purchase food items only from reputed establishments possessing a valid FSSAI licence or registration. Consumers should carefully check packaging, labelling, manufacturing and expiry dates and ensure proper hygiene before buying food products. "Wherever possible, people should prefer freshly prepared homemade food," he added.
Khosla further appealed to residents to immediately report any suspected manufacture, storage, transportation, sale or distribution of adulterated or unsafe food products to the Food Safety Wing. "Every complaint received will be investigated promptly, and if violations are established, strict legal action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. This may include suspension or cancellation of licences, monetary penalties and prosecution," he said.
He informed that as part of the ongoing special festive enforcement drive, inspection teams are regularly visiting markets across the district, while samples of suspected food items are being collected and sent to notified laboratories for scientific analysis.
Appealing for public cooperation, Khosla said timely information from citizens is crucial in preventing food adulteration and safeguarding public health. "Let us celebrate the festive season by bringing happiness—not illness—into our homes. Choose safe, hygienic and quality food, and support the Food Safety Wing in its mission to eliminate food adulteration," he added.