DEAHRDUN: At the Rudrapur-based State Food and Drugs Testing Lab, barely 100 food samples would come for testing in an entire year before the Maggi controversy broke out. In just the last month though, they have received a staggering 150 samples for testing. Around 54 samples of Maggi alone have landed at the lab in the past two months. "Testing of a single packet of Maggi takes around 10 days and with so many other products coming in for tests, it becomes very difficult for us," said Sachin Sharma, the only regular food analyst in the Rudrapur factory.
As per data provided by the food safety department, 40 samples of packed food products like noodles and pasta have been sent for testing since June 4. "The drives undertaken by food officers have simply doubled in the past month," said Rajendra Rawat, official of the food safety and standards department, Uttarakhand.
The lab staff obviously are a harried lot, and this reflects in their work. Some of them told TOI that matters are compounded further because many positions have not been filled. "There are just six analysts at our factory. 17 posts of analysts and supporting staff have been lying vacant for the past four years. As a result, it is very difficult to give out timely reports of food products," said an official working at the lab, requesting anonymity.
Officials of the food security department meanwhile claim that hiring of analysts is not in their hands. "Only the director general, health and family welfare, can do the hiring. On our part, we have forwarded the request for new staff," said a senior official.
Uttarakhand had around 6500 registered food business operators and an equivalent number which are not registered. There has been a long-standing demand for another food test lab in the Garhwal region for which an approval has reportedly been secured.
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