Beware of the coloured sweets sold in open market in the city. They may contain harmful chemicals that will affect one’s health. Moreover, in the absence of a full-time food safety officer in East Singhbhum district for more than seven months, sale of adulterated sweets from shops across city remain unchecked and might affect the buyers.
With only a day left for the festival of lights which sees huge sale of sweets from more than 150 shops in city, there have been hardly any raids so far by the district health department to check adulteration.
According information, the last district food safety officer Mahesh Pandey had to opt for voluntary retirement due to eye problems in February 2015. East Singhbhum district civil surgeon, S. K Jha expressed his helpless over the issue.
“We have constituted a two-member team after complaints over adulteration in sweet products on Friday. But both the doctors were busy with their own jobs on Saturday. I have asked them to conduct at least few raids in the city today. We are trying to make the best out of the current situation,” said Dr Jha.
Use of harmful synthetic colours, including dyes is not permitted. But small manufacturers use the banned items just to give more colour to the sweets so as to make it attractive, officials said.
Most of the sweets manufactured in the district were from the unorganised sector — houses or group of people joining together to make a fast buck. Actions against the sweet manufacturer, after lab report would be initiated as per Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 (revised in 2012).
The two member team comprise Dr P. N Tiwary (who is in-charge of Jugsalai community health center) and Samir Kumar (in-charge of Patamda community health center). “I am busy at the Jugsalai community health center. However we are planning to conduct few raids today evening. Let’s see,” said Dr Tiwary. Incidentally, raids in earlier years at sweets manufacturing units and shops were conducted at least a week before the festivity.
Sources in the health department revealed that sweet-makers, in order to make mint profits, often use non-permitted colours, starch instead of sugar and aluminium-mixed varakh which can lead to severe digestive disorders. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 (revised in 2012), sale of adulterated products that are detrimental to health can invite a hefty fine of anything between Rs25,000 and Rs2 lakh.
However, when contacted an owner of sweet shop refuted charges of adulteration. “We are in business from 18 years and have been selling products without any report of adulteration,” he noted.
With only a day left for the festival of lights which sees huge sale of sweets from more than 150 shops in city, there have been hardly any raids so far by the district health department to check adulteration.
According information, the last district food safety officer Mahesh Pandey had to opt for voluntary retirement due to eye problems in February 2015. East Singhbhum district civil surgeon, S. K Jha expressed his helpless over the issue.
“We have constituted a two-member team after complaints over adulteration in sweet products on Friday. But both the doctors were busy with their own jobs on Saturday. I have asked them to conduct at least few raids in the city today. We are trying to make the best out of the current situation,” said Dr Jha.
Use of harmful synthetic colours, including dyes is not permitted. But small manufacturers use the banned items just to give more colour to the sweets so as to make it attractive, officials said.
Most of the sweets manufactured in the district were from the unorganised sector — houses or group of people joining together to make a fast buck. Actions against the sweet manufacturer, after lab report would be initiated as per Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 (revised in 2012).
The two member team comprise Dr P. N Tiwary (who is in-charge of Jugsalai community health center) and Samir Kumar (in-charge of Patamda community health center). “I am busy at the Jugsalai community health center. However we are planning to conduct few raids today evening. Let’s see,” said Dr Tiwary. Incidentally, raids in earlier years at sweets manufacturing units and shops were conducted at least a week before the festivity.
Sources in the health department revealed that sweet-makers, in order to make mint profits, often use non-permitted colours, starch instead of sugar and aluminium-mixed varakh which can lead to severe digestive disorders. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 (revised in 2012), sale of adulterated products that are detrimental to health can invite a hefty fine of anything between Rs25,000 and Rs2 lakh.
However, when contacted an owner of sweet shop refuted charges of adulteration. “We are in business from 18 years and have been selling products without any report of adulteration,” he noted.
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