Call them impure, contaminated or adulterated (they all are synonyms), they have a major role in your sickness.
Yes, India’s most popular festival, the festival of lights Diwali/Deepawali is almost here and this means, all the sweets shops are having a gala time. Actually, we all know India is a very vivid country and we Indians like to celebrate each and every day as a festival, which also means; the sweets business is a sweet business throughout the year. Anyways, the festivals have a major impact on the actual sale of sweets and other sweet products and items in India and Shimla is no different.
You may argue, the presence of other edible gift items like packed chocolates, candies, biscuits, canned sweets, soft drinks and even savoury chips and stuff (pardon us if we missed something, we assume you get the point) have taken over India’s typical handmade sweets (the Gulab Jamuns, Rasgulaas, Barfi and the likes ). It’s a common trend to save yourself from standing in a queue at a sweets shop, we rather like to visit our general store, get the alternatives, pack them in colourful wrappings and gift. But exactly, why do we do that?
Well, there are a few valid reasons. The first one would be our love for easy food. We at SB won’t call candies, biscuits, soft-drinks, chips and chocolates as junk food items (come-on half the world is eating all this, and they all can’t be wrong?). The second would most definitely be our laziness. In order to buy sweets, you need to find a sweets shop, these sweets shops aren’t so general like your general items/daily needs shop around the corner. The third and perhaps, the biggest reason for the decline of our old skool sweets shop is the fear of buying impure or contaminated sweets. During the festival season, there’s always a risk of buying and consuming polluted sweets. In order to make quick cash, the sweet makers or the Halwai’s in India are tempted to use non recommended products for their sweets. This poses a serious threat for your general well being and health.
Like we said, Shimla is no different and it’s important to have a thorough inspection of the sweets before buying them. Of Course! We don’t have the equipment to check for impurities but, we do have eyes, nose and tongue moreover, the health department of Municipal Corporation Shimla is already active.
If you find something suspicious, complain
The Shimla Municipal Health team has been visiting sweets shops in the different areas of the city and they have been proactively tightening the leash on those who are trying to play with the health of people. The team has been inspecting sweets shops and fruit vendors for impure sweets and rotten fruits under the guidance of Shimla Municipal Health Officer, Umesh Bharti and he has assured that strict actions have been taken against suspected sweet shops.
Speaking of actions, Under the Food Safety and Standard Act-2006, if a shopkeeper/sweet-maker is found guilty of making or selling infected, contaminated sweets, there’s a minimum penalty of Rs 1lakhs and a maximum fine of Rs 10lakhs with life imprisonment (applicable only if some dies due to consumption of infected food item). If the Municipal Health team finds a certain shop or place to be dirty and unfit as per the standards, the shop keeper can be fined upto Rs 1Lakh and if the shopkeeper doesn’t have his valid license to run the shop and the food items are unsafe, he can be fined Rs 5lakh with a maximum imprisonment of up to 6 months.
So, this goes out to all our friends in Shimla and everywhere else, if you plan to buy sweets, do have a thorough inspection of the items and if you find anything suspicious, stand up and register your voice.
Yes, India’s most popular festival, the festival of lights Diwali/Deepawali is almost here and this means, all the sweets shops are having a gala time. Actually, we all know India is a very vivid country and we Indians like to celebrate each and every day as a festival, which also means; the sweets business is a sweet business throughout the year. Anyways, the festivals have a major impact on the actual sale of sweets and other sweet products and items in India and Shimla is no different.
You may argue, the presence of other edible gift items like packed chocolates, candies, biscuits, canned sweets, soft drinks and even savoury chips and stuff (pardon us if we missed something, we assume you get the point) have taken over India’s typical handmade sweets (the Gulab Jamuns, Rasgulaas, Barfi and the likes ). It’s a common trend to save yourself from standing in a queue at a sweets shop, we rather like to visit our general store, get the alternatives, pack them in colourful wrappings and gift. But exactly, why do we do that?
Well, there are a few valid reasons. The first one would be our love for easy food. We at SB won’t call candies, biscuits, soft-drinks, chips and chocolates as junk food items (come-on half the world is eating all this, and they all can’t be wrong?). The second would most definitely be our laziness. In order to buy sweets, you need to find a sweets shop, these sweets shops aren’t so general like your general items/daily needs shop around the corner. The third and perhaps, the biggest reason for the decline of our old skool sweets shop is the fear of buying impure or contaminated sweets. During the festival season, there’s always a risk of buying and consuming polluted sweets. In order to make quick cash, the sweet makers or the Halwai’s in India are tempted to use non recommended products for their sweets. This poses a serious threat for your general well being and health.
Like we said, Shimla is no different and it’s important to have a thorough inspection of the sweets before buying them. Of Course! We don’t have the equipment to check for impurities but, we do have eyes, nose and tongue moreover, the health department of Municipal Corporation Shimla is already active.
If you find something suspicious, complain
The Shimla Municipal Health team has been visiting sweets shops in the different areas of the city and they have been proactively tightening the leash on those who are trying to play with the health of people. The team has been inspecting sweets shops and fruit vendors for impure sweets and rotten fruits under the guidance of Shimla Municipal Health Officer, Umesh Bharti and he has assured that strict actions have been taken against suspected sweet shops.
Speaking of actions, Under the Food Safety and Standard Act-2006, if a shopkeeper/sweet-maker is found guilty of making or selling infected, contaminated sweets, there’s a minimum penalty of Rs 1lakhs and a maximum fine of Rs 10lakhs with life imprisonment (applicable only if some dies due to consumption of infected food item). If the Municipal Health team finds a certain shop or place to be dirty and unfit as per the standards, the shop keeper can be fined upto Rs 1Lakh and if the shopkeeper doesn’t have his valid license to run the shop and the food items are unsafe, he can be fined Rs 5lakh with a maximum imprisonment of up to 6 months.
So, this goes out to all our friends in Shimla and everywhere else, if you plan to buy sweets, do have a thorough inspection of the items and if you find anything suspicious, stand up and register your voice.
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