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Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Patiala, January 15
It seems that the ‘Mission Tandarust Punjab’, launched by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has fallen flat in his own home district.
Water found in samples
Of 151 samples of milk and milk products collected by the Health Department in 2019 in Patiala, 82 have been found below safety parameters of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Fifty four per cent of the samples are found to be substandard.
As per the data, furnished by the Patiala District Health Officer (DHO), 35 samples of milk were collected in 2019, of which 19 samples failed to meet quality standard. Similarly, 47 of 116 samples of milk products, including paneer and ghee were found substandard.
Health officials said desi ghee is being prepared by using palm oil. Similarly, dairy owners were found using cottonseed oil as a foreign fat to manufacture paneer.
A health official said milk dairies often use different oils to improve the fat content as it is cost effective.
Experts said adulterated products could cause food poisoning and gastrointestinal complications. The synthetic compounds impair functioning of various organs, thereby, causing heart problems and cancer.
Shailey Jaitley, DHO, said they would collect more food samples to keep a tab on adulterated products. She said, “Apart from food sampling, we are also giving tips to food handlers to maintain hygiene.”
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