Agra: Around 66 percent samples of milk and milk products, mainly sweets, have failed laboratory test. The samples were collected by the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) during a special campaign ahead of Diwali from October 18 to 26.
The FSDA has started proceedings to register case against those found selling adulterated and substandard food products. Notices are being sent to them.
According to FSDA officials, some of the samples of sweets which have been found substandard belong to major shops of the city. Even expensive sweets had adulteration in them and were prepared in violation of the food safety rules and regulation.
The FSDA records stated that 77 out of the 115 samples of milk products collected by the FSDA teams during the eight-day campaign failed the laboratory test. Only 38 samples of milk, paneer and sweets were found suitable for human consumption.
FSDA designated officer Manoj Kumar Verma said, “Majority of the samples collected during the special campaign ahead of the Diwali festival has failed the lab test. In this regard, notices have been sent to them. We have asked the headquarters for permission to file a case against them under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.”
There are around 447 sweet sellers in Agra district as per official estimate. On Diwali, over 30,000 quintal sweets were sold in 4.5 lakh packets.
Adulteration causes serious risk to health. Presence of harmful starch, urea-mixed milk, caustic soda, ‘ararot’, artificial sweetening chemicals, non-approved coloured sweets [such as heavy metals incorporated malachite green] and unhygienic conditions lead to acute gastritis, serious diarrhoea, dysentery, dehydration and kidney inflammation.
Adulteration in food items can lead to cancellation of licence and sentence ranging between six months and life. Besides, the criminal offence attracts a fine up to Rs 10 lakh.
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