FDA plans anti-adulteration drive sans staff

Agency officials have been directed to check banned substances in sweets

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) minister Manohar Naik has decided to go tough on food adulteration in sweets this Diwali. He held a meeting where he directed officials to carry out a drive to check for adulteration and the use of banned substances in sweets by collecting samples from sweet manufacturing units and shops. Earlier, the minister of state for FDA, Satej Patil had also directed officials to carry out a similar drive to clamp down on the supply of adulterated sweets and food items in the market, especially during the festive season. On their part, the officials are surprised as to how ministers go on issuing orders when the department does not have enough staff to carry out raids and collect samples. Out of the 260 sanctioned posts of Food Safety Officers (earlier called Food Inspectors) in the state, the department has only 209 inspectors. Similarly, the number of sanctioned posts of Assistant Commissioners are 62, but as of now the department manages with just 27. The number of sanctioned posts for Joint Commissioners are eight and the number of posts filled are six. Besides, the department has not even recruited enough analysts to carry out lab tests too. There are about two and half lakh stores in state, while there are about 40,000 in the city, which sell food and related items in the state and come under the jurisdiction of the FDA. “How are we expected to function with such skeletal staff and carry out checks on a large scale,” asked an official. Earlier, FDA commissioner Mahesh Zagade had informed that action would be initiated against erring officials who did not implement rules and regulations of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and had warned of punitive action against those who failed to perform their duties.