Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab Food Safety Department has intensified its statewide crackdown on food adulteration, conducting raids across all 23 districts.
Acting on the directions of Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh and Principal Secretary Kumar Rahul, special teams are inspecting sweet shops, dairies, manufacturing units, restaurants and wholesale markets.
The Health Minister said the Bhagwant Mann-led government follows a zero-tolerance policy towards food adulteration and warned that strict action would be taken against violators under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
During the past month, officials seized over 11 tonnes of suspected unsafe food products, including desi ghee, paneer, khoa, sweets, edible oil and vanaspati. Nearly five tonnes of adulterated milk products and sweets, declared unfit for human consumption, were also destroyed.
The department collected 1,950 food samples for testing. Of 437 milk and dairy product samples collected during a special drive, 218 failed to meet prescribed standards, while 51 were declared unsafe and adulterated. Legal proceedings have been initiated against the violators.
FDA Punjab Commissioner Kanwal Preet Brar said officials had been directed to intensify inspections and ensure suspected food products were tested at the State Food and Drug Laboratory in Kharar.
She urged food manufacturers and sweet shop owners to maintain hygiene and quality standards while advising consumers to purchase food only from registered and licensed establishments.
