- 12 samples collected from various food establishments in the district, special emphasis on checking the quality and purity of food items.
Keeping in mind the Navratri festival and the festive season, the Food and Drug Administration Department is running a special, intensive enforcement campaign to provide pure, safe, and quality food to the general public in the district and to effectively prevent the sale of adulterated food items. Additionally, under the “Every Label Says Something” campaign, consumers are being made aware of essential information, including food quality, packaging, manufacturing and expiry dates.
Under the direction of Collector Mr. Indrajit Singh Chandrawal and the guidance of Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. Anil Kumar Shukla, food samples are being collected by regularly inspecting various food establishments in the district. As part of the campaign, Food Safety Officer Mr. Deepak Ghritalhare is inspecting grocery stores, general stores, and food selling establishments to check the quality and safety standards of food items.
- *Inspection of various establishments in four days, 12 food samples collected*
As part of the campaign, on October 7th, Messrs. Bhagwati Kirana Stores, located at Jaistambh Chowk in Khairagarh, was inspected. Three legal samples of Maggi, oats, and Fortune refined sunflower oil were collected. In the same sequence, on October 8th, Messrs. Jeetu Daily Needs and General Stores, located in the Ataria market area, was inspected and a legal sample of Patanjali cashew biscuits and a surveillance sample of special semolina toast were taken.
Following this, on October 9th, Garh Kaleva, located in the Collectorate premises, was inspected. Two surveillance samples of samosas and sabudana vada were collected from here. On October 12th, M/s New Famous Bazaar, located in the Golbazar area of Khairagarh, was inspected and three legal samples of instant idli, water chestnut flour, and sabudana used in fruit snacks, and one surveillance sample of Khamman Dhokla flour were collected.
Thus, a total of 12 samples were collected from various food establishments during the campaign, including eight legal and four surveillance samples. The collected samples will be tested to ensure they meet quality and food safety standards.
- *Consumers are being made aware through the campaign ‘Every Label Says Something’*
Along with inspections, the Food Safety Department is also placing special emphasis on consumer awareness. Through the “Every Label Says Something” campaign, citizens are being encouraged to check important information such as the manufacturing date, expiry date, composition of the food item, manufacturer’s details, and FSSAI license number when purchasing packaged food. Consumers are also being made aware of the quality and purity of food items and to report suspicious food items to the concerned department.
- *Inspection drive to prevent adulteration and ensure food safety will continue*
Food Safety Officer Mr. Deepak Ghritalhare stated that inspections and sample collection are being carried out continuously in the district to ensure the quality of food items and to prevent the sale of adulterated and substandard food items. Particular attention is being paid to the quality of food items and fruits consumed extensively during festive occasions. He appealed to food traders to sell clean, safe, and quality food items while adhering to the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
To ensure health protection and food safety of the common citizens in the district, the process of inspection and sample collection will continue under the special intensive enforcement campaign by the department.