Nine food samples fail quality test in Patiala

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 8

Nine food samples collected by the Health Department last month have failed to meet quality standards. Eight food samples were declared ‘substandard’ by the state food testing lab. Meanwhile, one food sample was found ‘misbranded’ revealed the report.

The food samples, which failed quality standards, include three samples of khoya barfi, two samples of paneer, two samples of curd and one sample of milk.

Dr Shelly Jaitley, district health officer (DHO), said paneer samples had low fat and moisture content while khoya barfi had higher fat content than prescribed the regulating government agency. Curd had also low-fat following which it was declared substandard, the DHO added.

As per the Food Safety Act food shall be deemed to be substandard if it does not meet the specified standards. One milk sample had higher fat content and also had starch mixed in it, the DHO said.

Biscuits of a shop were declared misbranded by the lab, the DHO added. Misbranding implies falsely giving false information of any food to mislead consumers or give a false guarantee.

Following the lab report, the Health Department would issue notices to all shop owners whose food samples failed the quality test.

“Besides giving notices, shop owners will also be given a one month time to challenge the state lab report, the DHO said.

After one-month, the Health Department will submit a report to the Additional Deputy Commissioner to take a decision on penalty for the violations.