With the festive season round the corner, Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) Maharashtra has already embarked upon drive to curb adulteration
in milk and sweets. Addressing a press conference at the state food
regulator's headquarters in Mumbai on Monday, Suresh Annapure, who was
recently appointed joint commissioner (Greater Mumbai), food, said the
people of Maharashtra can expect an adulteration-free festive season
this year.
Between July 20, 2013 and now, FDA Maharashtra's Greater Mumbai division has conducted raids on the premises of 186 food business operators (FBOs), seized adulterated food worth Rs 32, 39, 333 lakh, and fined 22 FBOs for violating the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and Regulations (FSSR), 2011. First information reports (FIR) have been filed against 20 FBOs in various police stations in the city.
Annapure said, “With the help of the Worli Milk unit, I, along with S K Shere, joint commissioner, food, Thane district, and other officers initiated a drive to check up adulterated milk at all the five check nakas in Mumbai recently. Overall, we collected more than four lakh litre of milk from 113 milk vehicles on the spot. Our officials found that about 2,103 litres of milk did not adhere to FSSA, and that was the reason it was sent back.”
“Three samples of milk were sent to laboratories for testing. In a single raid organised on milk vendors who sell milk through bicycle at the doorsteps of consumers, we found a case of tampering in Borivali, and we filed a case against him. He was arrested soon by the Borivali police station. In order to curb the adulteration of sweets, we are doing regular check-ups at all sweet shops in Mumbai. This year, we will ensure a safe festive season for all the people of Mumbai,” he said.
Annapure informed, “Since sweets are consumed in large quantities during Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali, we are distributing handbills to the people about precautions and guidance required to be taken at large while buying and consuming the sweets and milk and milk products. Any consumers who find FBOs not following FSSA and indulging in adulteration can call our helpline (number: 1800-11-2100) any time, and action will be taken against the offenders within 24 hours.”
The following are the precautions:
Between July 20, 2013 and now, FDA Maharashtra's Greater Mumbai division has conducted raids on the premises of 186 food business operators (FBOs), seized adulterated food worth Rs 32, 39, 333 lakh, and fined 22 FBOs for violating the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and Regulations (FSSR), 2011. First information reports (FIR) have been filed against 20 FBOs in various police stations in the city.
Annapure said, “With the help of the Worli Milk unit, I, along with S K Shere, joint commissioner, food, Thane district, and other officers initiated a drive to check up adulterated milk at all the five check nakas in Mumbai recently. Overall, we collected more than four lakh litre of milk from 113 milk vehicles on the spot. Our officials found that about 2,103 litres of milk did not adhere to FSSA, and that was the reason it was sent back.”
“Three samples of milk were sent to laboratories for testing. In a single raid organised on milk vendors who sell milk through bicycle at the doorsteps of consumers, we found a case of tampering in Borivali, and we filed a case against him. He was arrested soon by the Borivali police station. In order to curb the adulteration of sweets, we are doing regular check-ups at all sweet shops in Mumbai. This year, we will ensure a safe festive season for all the people of Mumbai,” he said.
Annapure informed, “Since sweets are consumed in large quantities during Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali, we are distributing handbills to the people about precautions and guidance required to be taken at large while buying and consuming the sweets and milk and milk products. Any consumers who find FBOs not following FSSA and indulging in adulteration can call our helpline (number: 1800-11-2100) any time, and action will be taken against the offenders within 24 hours.”
The following are the precautions:
- While buying sweets, milk and milk products, one should ensure that they are fresh, properly labelled and sold in a packaged condition;
- As far as possible, do not buy sweets, milk or milk products without a purchase bill or guarantee;
- Do not buy sweets which are not stored or manufactured in hygienic conditions;
- Sweets prepared from mawa (khoya) must be consumed within 24 hours and stored under proper refrigeration. Mawa should be purchased only from registered or licensed premises;
- Bengali and the related sweet items should be consumed within eight to ten hours from the time of purchase;
- If fungus is observed on the sweets, it should not be consumed and destroyed immediately, and
- If the sweets are spoiled and there is a difference in the taste, it should not be consumed.
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