Lucknow. To provide pure and safe food items to the people on Diwali and Bhai Dooj, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has intensified the campaign against adulterators. Under the 'Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai' campaign, raids are being conducted on sweet shops, manufacturing units, warehouses and food storage centers across the state. So far, 935 food samples have been taken after inspection at 1,133 places. Licenses of 27 establishments have been suspended after serious irregularities were found. At the same time, about 54 quintals of food items have been seized, the estimated value of which is Rs 1.32 crore.
In view of the increase in demand for sweets and other food items during festivals, the department has intensified checking of quality, cleanliness of manufacturing sites, purity of raw materials and safe storage. The objective of the campaign is to curb adulteration and provide safe food items to consumers.
32 mobile parties took action in Bareilly-Moradabad
Under the campaign, 32 food mobile teams conducted special checks and enforcement actions in Bareilly and Moradabad. Apart from this, inter-district teams also inspected food establishments in Kasganj, Etawah, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Kushinagar and Shahjahanpur.
112 food samples were collected during inspection of 98 establishments in these districts. Correction notices were issued to 78 establishments after irregularities were found. Licenses of five units were suspended, while the business of one unit operating without a license was closed.
Action on finding food items contaminated with dirt and mold
During inspection, hygiene standards were ignored in many establishments. Dirt, broken floor and dirty water accumulated in the premises of New Bajpai Sweets located in Subhash Nagar, Bareilly. A toilet was found running near the furnace. Due to these shortcomings, the license of the establishment was suspended.
Old and moldy Ghevar was found in Dheeraj Sweets and Confectionery located in Kailashpuri, Bareilly. Sweets were being manufactured here in unhygienic conditions. The department also suspended the license of this establishment.
Case of expired material and inedible colors in Moradabad
It came to light that food items were being prepared in unsafe conditions in the Rasgulla manufacturing unit of Hukumat Milk Cakes located near Dhakiya, Dilari in Moradabad. Food material was found scattered in a contaminated state, after which the license of the unit was suspended.
Serious irregularities like expired food items, rat feces and use of inedible colors were found at Madani Sweets located near Kohinoor Tiraha. The drainage system was also found to be poor. The license of this establishment was also suspended. At the same time, Bina Sweets Store located near Badi Sabzi Mandi was found operating without a food license. The business was closed after dirt and rat infestation was found here. In Pawan Sweets of Kasganj, action was also taken against food items being prepared in unhygienic conditions.
Monitoring from manufacturing to sales
FSDA teams are monitoring the entire supply chain of food items. Food safety standards are being scrutinized from manufacturing, transportation and storage to retailing. Quality of raw materials, personal hygiene of employees, cleanliness of construction sites and safe storage of food items have been made part of the investigation.
The permissible quantity of colors and other food additives used in food items is also being examined. Special monitoring is being done on the use of banned chemicals and inedible colours. The quality of the sweets and their validity period are also being investigated. The department has also included temporary shops and warehouses in the scope of the campaign.
Notice on correctable deficiencies, strictness in serious cases
The department has instructed officials not to unnecessarily harass small and retail traders. If common and correctable deficiencies are found, businessmen are being given notice and given an opportunity to correct the system. At the same time, strict action is being taken against adulteration, use of banned chemicals and inedible colors, serious hygiene negligence and those doing business without license.
According to departmental officials, the aim of the 'Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai' campaign is not to harass businessmen, but to provide pure, quality and safe food items to the common people. Action will continue against those who compromise on the quality of food items during festivals.