Students would soon conduct test for adulteration in food, beverages

Indore: School students would soon be able to conduct test for adulteration in food and beverages on their own. Food and drug administration(FDA) department will provide test kits to schools so that students can test eatables on campus. The department would train students on how to conduct the test. 

The training session and test kit distribution will conducted under Safe and Nutritious Food (SNF) campaign started by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

According to FDA inspector Manish Swami, the test kit worth Rs 3,000 will be provided to school management. Number of test kits given will depend upon number of students. Minimum three and maximum five kits will be provided to each school.

“Under the campaign, FDA team will create health and wellness coordinators in each school, who will be trained for the test and will be called ‘master sehat’. Later a session will be conducted in each school in which students will be informed and trained about how test will be conducted and its importance,” said Swami.

He added students of Class 11 and 12 will be allowed to use the kits. The students can bring food products and check them in school using the kit. If a student finds something impure or adulterated, they can inform us and we will take legal action.

A monthly report will be sought from school on number of test conducted by students to ensure that students are using the kit. 

There are more than 3500 schools in city and nearby areas including 1700 government schools. The private school students will be able to test food quality made in school canteen while government school students will be able to check quality of mid-day meal.

“Sehat Club will be created in schools comprising senior students & administration staff. A special schedule will be created for every school according to which Sehat Club will organize activities for building awareness through theatre, assembly addresses, workshops and parent teacher meetings,” said Swami. The campaign will be started in the city within 15 days.

GFX

Test kits will have

Pipettes, Lactometers & Cylinders, Litmus papers, Iodine solution, Milk Testing Chemicals & Alcohol,Tilt Measures,Thermometers,Sampling Dippers,Plastic Sample Bottles,Jerry Cans, Funnels & Acid Pumps,Cleaning Brushes

What can be tested 

Khoa,Milk,Spices,Sugar,Oil,Ghee