SMC to file charge sheet today
Srinagar, Feb 23: State Government has accorded sanction for the prosecution of the leading Food Processing Companies whose products were found adulterated with carcinogenic chemicals.
Drug Controller of the State, Satish Gupta, told Excelsior that Government has accorded sanction for the prosecution of AVON Agro Industries Pvt Ltd Delhi, Khyber Agro Farms and M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag whose food products were found adulterated by the Central Food Laboratory Kolkata.
Health Officer Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Dr Shafaqat Khan told Excelsior that he has got sanction from the Commissioner Food Safety Jammu and Kashmir, Ganzafar Ali,for the prosecution of M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag whose Sounf powder was found adulterated and that of a Punjab based Food processing company whose Karela and Jamun juice were found adulterated.
Dr Shafaqat said that he will produce charge-sheet against these two companies tomorrow before the Municipal Magistrate Srinagar under Food Safety Standards Act 2006. “There was no delay on my part for prosecution but I was waiting for the government sanction”, he added.
The Food Safety Officer, Budgam, Shugufta, told Excelsior that she has not received any sanction for the prosecution of Khyber Agro Farms whose toned milk has been found adulterated. “Once the sanction is accorded, we will go through legal process”, she added.
The turmeric powder of AVON Agro Industries Pvt Ltd Delhi, toned Milk of Khyber Agro Farms and Sounf powder of M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag was found adulterated by the Central Food Laboratory Kolkata whose reports came in November and December last year.
The Central Food Laboratory Kolkata report about turmeric powder manufactured by AVON Agro Industries Pvt Ltd Delhi said that it contained Tartrazine adulteration.
The Central Food Laboratory Kolkata report about the Khyber Milk states that besides containing detergent, the sample has failed to conform to various other standards stipulated under laws and regulations.
The Central Food Laboratory Kolkata about Saunf powder manufactured by M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag found it unsafe and misbranded, containing added colouring matter – Carmoisine and Tartrazine.
Sources said that these companies are facing serious charges as the Director SKIMS, Shoukat Ahmad Zagar, in its report has said that the colouring agents and other material found in the spices and the toned milk are carcinogenic, can damage various body organs and cause heart diseases.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has already penalized these companies and asked them to deposit Rs 60 crore with the Director SKIMS for damaging the health of people.
Good decision to prosecute the offenders, The lot needs to be recalled .
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