EOW to send gutka samples for test after food safety clearance

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh economic offences wing (EOW) has decided that samples of gutka and other raw materials that the food safety department had received following purity tests, would be sent for separate testing.

Incidentally, the EOW had recently raided a factory in Govindpura and seized samples of gutka and other raw materials. On Monday, the food safety department received reports of 40 samples sent for purity test, which included 12 samples of gutka. Out of the total 40, 15 have failed the test while remaining 25 cleared the Food Safety & Standards Act (FSSA) standards.

Among the 12 gutka samples, six samples of known gutka companies were found substandard while none of them were found unsafe for consumption.

The EOW, however, has decided to send samples of the gutka and raw materials for investigations to examine whether it contains hazardous substances, sources said.

“EOW has received some complaints about the samples so they want to verify at their own level,” said an officer in the local administration. Role of some top officials of the food department are also under scanner.

Meanwhile, sample of a brand of gutka, produced in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida, taken during a drive in MP were found to have magnesium carbonate content more than permissible limit, and has, therefore, been classified unsafe for consumption. Sample of betel leaves taken from New Market was declared ‘unsafe’ because it contained tobacco as well.

Besides, four milk samples taken from two establishment in the city were found substandard because they did not have the requisite fat content.

Producers/suppliers of all the samples found substandard or unsafe are being served notices under the provision of FSSA, said DK Verma, senior food safety officer based at Bhopal.

Meanwhile, mobile food lab, which is going to various localities in Bhopal to display how purity of edibles is checked can be checked at homes itself, on Monday went to Indrapuri, Anand Nagar, Gulmohar, Piplani and Bawadia Kalan areas and interacted with residents there. The sample brought by residents were put to test before them by the technicians accompanying the mobile lab and report were submitted on the spot. They were also given tips on how they can themselves check purity of goods by simple techniques. In all, 32 samples were tested in the drive against adulteration, now christened as ‘Shudh Ke Liye Yudh’.

Incidentally, it was the final day of mobile food lab on the roads of Bhopal. During past 10 days, while operating in different areas of Bhopal, the lab tested more than 300 samples brought by residents.