Health Dept destroys khoya, sweets

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 15

The Health Department destroyed around 150 kg of khoya seized from two manufacturers during a raid at Bhullar village here today.

The department also destroyed around 90 kg of sweets seized from shops situated on the outskirts of the city.

Officials of the Health Department said samples of the food items were taken before destroying them.

District Health Officer Dr Lakhbir Singh Baghowalia said, “The destroyed items were emanating a smell and other inspects, including flies, were found in them. These items were not safe for human consumption. The standard procedure was followed before destroying these products.”

Dr Baghowalia said the destroyed khoya was seized from Kashmir Singh and Bagga dairy at Bhullar village. He said samples of khoya were collected from the houses of Lakhwinder Singh and Sukhchain Singh.

The officials said they had information that a few persons in the village were manufacturing khoya at their houses and supplying it to the wholesale khoya market inside the Lohgarh gate.

They said the destroyed khoya was prepared from milk powder by mixing vegetable oil in it. The officials also raided shops of sweets in Chehharta and Chogawan areas.

“We have collected 22 samples of sweets and their ingredients from these shops,” they said. As the demand for sweets increases ahead of Diwali, the department had earlier initiated a drive to check the sale and manufacturing of adulterated and unhygienic foods items.

Dr Baghowalia said intensive inspections would continue till Diwali as profit-oriented shopkeepers might try to meet the increased demand with adulterated and low-quality products. He said people must buy sweets only from trusted shops.

The Health Department has also seized artificial colours used in sweets and sent their samples to the food testing laboratory.