Samples of jaggery, milk taken in Ambala

Ambala, January 5

A team of drug and food administration on Saturday took a sample of jaggery from Khurshid Gur Kolhu at Khudda Kalan in Ambala. The team had taken four samples of jaggery, two samples of milk, and some other food items on Friday.

While the samples of jaggery were taken from Dhiman Cane Crusher, Avsed Ali Gur Kohlu, Bansal Cane Crusher, and Shiv Shakti Cane Crusher in Nohni village of Ambala, the milk samples were taken from a milk vendor, Naresh Kumar, and Lucky Dairy in Saha block.

Besides these, samples of atta noodle, chocolate pastry, and guava juice were taken from different shops on Friday on the basis of complaints received.

Food Safety Officer (FSO) Subhash Chander said, “The consumption of jaggery and products made from it increases manifold in winters and to ensure that only good quality jaggery is provided to the customers, the samples have been taken. All samples will be sent to the food laboratory in Karnal for analysis.”

On the other hand, two milk samples, out of eight, taken from dairies and milk vendors in December have been found to be substandard. The FSO said, “Two samples — one was taken from a milk vendor, who belongs to Lohal Simbli, Rajpura, and another sample from Ambala cantonment — have been found to be substandard. The SNF (solids-not-fat) content was not found adequate in the milk. The fat content was adequate. More raids will be conducted in the coming days to check adulteration in milk.”

Health Minister Anil Vij said chemicals were used in jaggery making, hence directions had been issued to the Food Safety Officers across the state to take samples of jaggery and get these tested in a laboratory.