Of 127 food samples, none fails quality test

Health Department launched mobile food testing van in district on May 16

Residents get food samples checked on the food safety van in Patiala on Monday. 

Patiala, May 27

Out of 127 food samples collected by a mobile food testing van, none of the sample has failed quality test. The food testing van was flagged by the Health Department on May 16.

Of these, 85 were of milk and milk products while 40 samples were of khoya. The department had tested 29 samples in Patiala city, 36 in Rajpura, 15 in Nabha, 12 in Bhadson, 20 in Bahadurgarh and 15 in Samana.

The health officials informed that the food testing lab would be available in the district until May 31. The officials said the food testing van was fully equipped to conduct tests for adulteration in milk, water, edible oils and other items.

District Health Officer (DHO) Satinder Singh said, “So far, all food samples have passed the quality test. The main aim of the van is to check food adulteration. The results are positive because we had instructed food handlers in the district to follow the FSSAI food safety standards.”

He said in case a sample fails the quality test, the department would send it to the state food lab in Kharar to get the complete report. Based on the state lab report, fine would be decided, he added.

The DHO said the lab on wheels would visit different areas of the city and residents could avail the facility to know the quality of food products being used at their homes. He said people would have to pay a fee of Rs 50 per sample for getting it tested. The van is funded by the Central Government and follows the guidelines of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). 

He said, “The mobile testing van was an initiative to ensure that residents eat hygienic food as per the food safety guidelines. Milk, milk products, tea leaves, spices and condiments, sugar, water and other edibles can be tested.”