Food testing van gets going for Ludhiana residents

Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, November 16

A sample testing van for various foods and beverages is here and residents can get samples tested at their doorstep as the van will be moving around in the city.

The van is equipped to conduct 40 different types of tests.

Food adulteration

• Misbranded food items are those which do not have proper labelling and mislead customers.
• Sub-standard products are those which do not have contents according to the standard level.
• Unsafe products are those which are unfit for human consumption.

The food safety vehicle will be detecting fats and testing adulterants such as urea, sucrose, starch, milk adulteration, synthetic colours along with many tests for checking adulteration in food items.

Van route for next 10 days

November 17: Gill Road, Janta Nagar, Shimlapuri

November 18: Model Town, Dugri

November 19: Sudhar, Mullanpur

November 20: Shingar Cinema, CMC, Samrala Chowk

November 23: Pakhowal Road, Jodhan

November 24: Jalandhar Byepass, Salem Tabri

November 25: Doraha, Samhewal

November 26: Gill, Sarih, Dehlon

November 27: Ferozepur Road to Mullanpur

The van has analytical instruments such as milk analyser, hot air over, hot plate, multi parameter hand-held meter, digital refractometer, mixer-grinder and digital weighing scale.

The van is from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and anyone can pay Rs 50 and get the testing done. The results will be given within 10 minutes.

District Health Officer Dr Rajesh Garg said people were often curious to get milk and other eatables tested and the food van is an easy and accessible option to get the samples tested and that, too, at their doorstep.

The reports of the samples will be taken to take action against the defaulters selling sub-standard food and the consumer himself whose sample has failed can lodge a complaint with the Health Department authorities.

Residents can also lodge their complaints regarding the adulterated food products on toll free number 1800112100.