DK DC orders inspection of food and water units

Mangaluru, May 4, 2017: Chairing a meeting of the district-level committee for the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act. on May 3, Wednesday, DK DC Dr K G Jagadeesh directed officials to carry out inspections at food processing and water units to ensure the quality of food, as a part of the effective implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act.

The DC said that there are 16 drinking water packaging units. "As per the Act, such units have to be ISI-certified. No licence could be issued to the units that do not meet ISI standards. 

Units operating without licence should be sealed. A circular will be issued to all panchayats and urban local bodies," he said. Expressing his discontentment on the poor performance of food safety officials in inspecting the food and water units, he directed the officials to test the quality of food and water in laboratories.

Adulteration : "It is also found that the food sold in street stalls and fast-food centres gets adulterated with non-permitted chemicals. The items sold in bakeries also carry non-permitted colours which adversely affect the health. Awareness should be created among the public,"DK DC Dr Jagadeesha said, and warned, "Stern action will also be initiated against vendors who use chemicals to ripen and colour fruits. The lorries carrying fruits should be subjected to inspection and if use of chemicals on fruits is found, such lorries should be seized."

Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer Dr M R Ravi said that as water-borne diseases have been spreading faster, the quality of water cannot be ignored. The public may submit their complaints to food safety officials if they find adulteration in food served in hotels. Senior food safety officer H T Raju said that the taluk health officer will be the food safety officer for the taluk. The implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act will be monitored by the senior food safety officer in Mangaluru City Corporation and Puttur taluk.

Additional DC Kumar, district health and family welfare Officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao and district surveillance officer Dr Rajesh were present during the meeting.