“Instructions on food safety and hygiene have been given”
Come Deepavali and its time for Jalebis and laddoos in most households. But a sweet treat might land you at the hospital, if you are not careful.
Food safety officials (FSO), who are keeping a strict vigil on the quality of sweets and savouries being prepared for Deepavali at various food stalls in the district, warn that adulterants and poor quality oil are often used to cut down costs.
Surprise raids are being conducted on sweet stalls, bakeries and their manufacturing units to ensure safe food for the public.
According to food safety officials, there are around 14,000 food business operators in the district out of which nearly 250 Shops sell sweets.
“Sweet shops are likely to be screened for unhygienic conditions ahead of Deepavali. Improvement notices will be issued to those found to be functioning under unsanitary conditions,” said M. Kavikkumar, Designated Officer, Food Safety Wing, Virudhunagar.
“Already, instructions on food safety and hygiene had been given to the outlet owners who are well aware of the Act,” he added. Since April, around 47 samples were taken from sweet shops and manufacturing units in the district for testing of shelf life, use of colouring agents, quality and for growth of micro-organisms such as E. Coli, coliform, salmonella, clostridium, yeast and mould count.
Going by the data provided by Food Safety Wing, so far, 14 persons in the district have been booked under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. One of the samples collected was found to be unsafe for human consumption. As per procedure, the sweet shop owners are normally given a month’s time to challenge the sample report in a referral laboratory, from where the report will come within 15 days. Only after that, does the process of initiating action against offenders begin in accordance to the relevant provisions.
“People should be alert while they buy sweets. They need to look for the date of manufacturing and other information such as expiry date before purchasing a food product. Besides, they should insist on a bill,” S. Narayanan, a food safety officer, said.
Consumers can report cases of unhygienic or unsafe products to the Department of Food Safety at 04562-252255 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on working days.
Come Deepavali and its time for Jalebis and laddoos in most households. But a sweet treat might land you at the hospital, if you are not careful.
Food safety officials (FSO), who are keeping a strict vigil on the quality of sweets and savouries being prepared for Deepavali at various food stalls in the district, warn that adulterants and poor quality oil are often used to cut down costs.
Surprise raids are being conducted on sweet stalls, bakeries and their manufacturing units to ensure safe food for the public.
According to food safety officials, there are around 14,000 food business operators in the district out of which nearly 250 Shops sell sweets.
“Sweet shops are likely to be screened for unhygienic conditions ahead of Deepavali. Improvement notices will be issued to those found to be functioning under unsanitary conditions,” said M. Kavikkumar, Designated Officer, Food Safety Wing, Virudhunagar.
“Already, instructions on food safety and hygiene had been given to the outlet owners who are well aware of the Act,” he added. Since April, around 47 samples were taken from sweet shops and manufacturing units in the district for testing of shelf life, use of colouring agents, quality and for growth of micro-organisms such as E. Coli, coliform, salmonella, clostridium, yeast and mould count.
Going by the data provided by Food Safety Wing, so far, 14 persons in the district have been booked under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. One of the samples collected was found to be unsafe for human consumption. As per procedure, the sweet shop owners are normally given a month’s time to challenge the sample report in a referral laboratory, from where the report will come within 15 days. Only after that, does the process of initiating action against offenders begin in accordance to the relevant provisions.
“People should be alert while they buy sweets. They need to look for the date of manufacturing and other information such as expiry date before purchasing a food product. Besides, they should insist on a bill,” S. Narayanan, a food safety officer, said.
Consumers can report cases of unhygienic or unsafe products to the Department of Food Safety at 04562-252255 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on working days.
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