Meerut: The results of tests carried out on ‘festive foods’ collected from Meerut shops by the state Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) during the month of October are out, and they are not looking good.
Out of 38 food items, reports on which have been released, 28 have failed the test. Of these, three were found unsafe, five substandard and the rest 20 were found misbranded. The FSDA has already initiated action against various establishments by slapping a fine of Rs 15.1 lakh in total on them.
“As many as 145 food samples were collected in the festive month of October, covering Dussehra and Diwali. Till now, 38 reports have arrived from Lucknow, of which 28 have failed the test,” said Archana Dheeran, designated food officer, FSDA. The suspicious food samples collected from Meerut were carefully sealed and sent to the laboratory in Lucknow, to avoid tampering in transit.
The three unsafe items — all of them protein supplements — had the prohibited carmoisine, which causes hyperactivity and is alleged to cause water retention, as per reports. The five substandard items included one sample each of ghee, refined bran oil and others. The misbranded items included 18 samples of namkeen, one of sabudana and one of salt.
“Fines totaling Rs 15.10 lakh were imposed on those flouting norms, and inquiry is being carried out as per norms,” said Dheeran.
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