MEERUT: With Dussheraand Diwali round the corner, the Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) is on its toes to make sure that city residents don't fall prey to adulterated sweets and other food items during the festive month. A team of five persons has been constituted to conduct surprise inspections at shops in rural and urban areas to check adulteration and prevent the sale of expired and unhealthy food items in the market.
The anti-adulteration drive is set to continue till October 30. "A five-member team of the food department is conducting regular checks by sending suspicious food items to the laboratory for testing. If any sub-standard or unsafe food item is found, the person will be dealt with as per the rules," said J P Singh, chief food safety officer.
Samples of suspicious food items will also be sent to Lucknow's food testing lab to avert any manipulation at the city-based lab. The sample reports from the city-based lab can be procured in 48 hours while those from the Lucknow lab take at least 20 days to be released, said Singh.
FSDA officials are keeping a close watch on sweets, milk products and namkeen - which, the officials say, are the main food items that are found adulterated. "From the lab reports that have come in the past, it has come to surface that non-food colour is being used in sweets. City residents should try and avoid coloured sweets, especially the deep pink ones, which might be adulterated," said Singh.
Customers can file complaints related to food adulteration with the department on the condition of anonymity too. It should be taken to note that if any city resident is apprehensive about a certain food item that he or she has already purchased, then they can send it for testing to the food department personally and if found adulterated, a complaint can be filed. A food sample may be submitted by depositing Rs 1,000 and if it is found adulterated, a complaint can be filed with FSDA officials, who will take further action.
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