83 food samples seized during drive

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 12

A Health Department team, led by Harjot Pal Singh, Assistant Commissioner, Food, and Food Safety Officers Satnam Singh and Mukul Gill, has seized 83 food samples during the checking drive which is on for the last over a month.

The samples mainly included sweets and dairy products from different parts of the district to check adulteration in food items. The team has also destroyed about 75 kg of coloured sweets (prepared using unpermitted food colours). They have also checked cold stores and other such places that are likely to be used to store sweets and has also checked railway stations to check the arrival of khoya or other such items likely to be transported from other states.

All food business operators, particularly those dealing in milk, sweets and milk products, were directed to ensure the usage of quality raw material and prepare food items under hygienic condition. The Assistant Commissioner, Food, sought cooperation from all Food Business Operators so that safe, pure and healthy sweets and other food items were made available to the general public during the festive season and festivals were celebrated in its true spirit.

The team said the drive was being carried out under the directions of state Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu and Commissioner Food and Drug Administration, Kumar Rahul. Meetings have been held with the representatives of sweet shops, dairies and other food business operators at various places of the district, in Phagwara, Kapurthala city, Kala Sanghian, Sidhwan Dona, Sultanpur Lodhi and Subhanpur.