May 30, 2013

Authorities act against poor quality food

LUDHIANA: A drive has been launched in the city against manufacturers, who are violating norms of the Food and Safety Act. An ice cream parlour in Model Town, Rawat Ice Cream, was recently slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 for not complying with the sub-standards of the Food and Safety Act. Another person from Machhiwara was fined Rs 50,000 as milk powder also did not meet the laid out standards.
Food and Safety Inspector Harpreet Kaur said the parlour was not following the specifications laid in the Act as the ice creams contained 5.35% of milk solids content as against the required 10%.
Neeru Katyal Gupta, Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Adjudicating Officer (Food Safety), has demanded a strict action against shopkeepers and manufacturers who violate the sub-standards for various eatables such as ice creams, cheese and butter among others.
"Maintaining a standard in food items is very important because even little adulteration can lead to greater health hazards. As far as fines and punishments are concerned, the maximum fine that can be imposed on a defaulter is Rs 5 lakh," she said.
Rameshwar Das, owner of Rameshwar Bateesa Factory, Tajpur Road, was handed a fine of Rs 30,000 as three worms were found dead in the sweets prepared at his unit. Another bateesa maker Anil Kumar was also slapped a fine of Rs 30,000 due to presence of a 4-metre long plastic thread in his produce.
Dr Aasheesh Ahuja, a senior medico from Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), said, "Casual approach towards food especially milk products can cause some serious health ailments. If a milk product does not have the prescribed amount of milk (calcium) that means it would have an excess amount of carbohydrate or some other mineral which would be very harmful."
The doctor further said that adulteration in food is quite common these days and often hampers children's mental and physical growth. "Further, it is one of the reasons why kids these days suffer from stomach diseases and allergies," he pointed out.

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