Recently, few wheat samples were collected from a fair price shop which tested 'marginally safe'. A meeting was held with Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain where the emphasis was laid down on ensuring checks on these shops offering food items at subsidised rates.
Fears of massive adulteration in food items in government-run shops in Delhi has prompted the AAP government to keep an eye on subsidised ration stores in the city and monitor the mid-day meal served to students in government schools.
"It will be like monitoring your own department. The government has made sure that it will not tolerate any kind of adulteration, be it private shops or even government-run food shops," said Mrinalini Darswal, commissioner, Department of Food Safety, Delhi government. "We have started the process and it will be carried out regularly," she added.
Recently, few wheat samples were collected from a fair price shop which tested 'marginally safe'. A meeting was held with Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain where the emphasis was laid down on ensuring checks on these shops offering food items at subsidised rates.
As per the official process, the department receives a complaint about an adulterated food item, the report is then marked to the designated district officer, the officer along with the safety officer visits the shop to collect the samples. The samples are then sent for testing where the food analyst supervises the work and sends the reports back to the concerned department.
"So far, the main focus was on the private players but it is our government-run shops which cater to larger population. The government is very particular about the well-being of the citizens," Darswal told Mail Today.
The government's food and drug department monitors the food policy in the city, keeps vigil on the market by way of surprise inspections and raids on food establishments, besides drawing samples of food articles that can be adulterated, substandard or misbranded.
On an average, it receives 125 food samples a month for testing.
The department also carries out awareness campaigns for the consumers and endeavours to educate food business operators for enabling them to comply with food safety management systems as prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Large number of Delhi residents depend on these government-run shops as items are supplied at subsidised rates.
Experts say that by keeping a track on these shops, the government is setting same guidelines for everyone.
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