Admin orders raids against shops to check sale of adulterated sweets

With festive season round the corner, the district administration has put the sale of adulterated sweets from shops under scanner across city. The coloured sweets sold in open market in the city contain harmful chemicals that will affect one’s health.

Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar on Friday convened a meeting of senior officials of various department along with SSP Anoop T Mathew and ordered raids against such shops selling adulterated sweets. Kumar ordered samples of sweets to be collected from shops and putting the products under test. 

Use of harmful synthetic colours, including dyes is not permitted. But small manufacturers use the banned items just to give more colour to the sweets so as to make it attractive, officials said.

Actions against such sweet manufacturer, after lab report would be initiated as per Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 (revised in 2012). Under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 (revised in 2012), sale of adulterated products that are detrimental to health can invite a hefty fine of anything between Rs 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh.

Moreover, rampant use of intoxicating drugs and narcotic substance by people, especially the youngsters has led the administration to initiate step to curb the menace in the city.

"Following the complaints, we have decided to carry out random raids at the medical stores, especially the ones operating in the places like Mango, Parsudih, Jugsalai and other fringe area. We have opted for a random checking because the complainants had not mentioned about any specific shops where these intoxicating medicines are being sold without prescription," said an official.

During the meeting strategy was also prepared to tighten noose of those selling and manufacturing country-made illicit liquor. Administration has also ordered action. As part of the initiative joint surprise raids would be carried out at liquor selling points in the evening while production points will see raids in the morning.

“Illicit liquor is a hugely profitable industry where bootleggers pay no taxes and sell enormous quantities of their product. There is a need to restrict extensive abuse of the intoxicant in order to reduce untoward incidents in the society. Moreover, most of the hotels are not adhering to the rules while serving foreign liquor in lavish parties. Continuous raids must be carried against illegal distilleries especially in view of the forthcoming festive season later this year,” noted an official.