Check Food Items Scrupulously Ahead Of Festivals, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District Collector Tells FDA

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District Collector Dilip Swami has directed the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to check the food items scrupulously in the market ahead of the festival season and also submit a proposal to the administration to establish a special laboratory to check food samples.

The festivals like Navratri, Dussehra, Diwali and even the rainy season are coming. The markets will be full of sweets and other edible items. Thus, to restrict the contamination of food articles, the FDA has been directed to initiate a severe food checking drive, especially of packaged food. The administration has also been asked to submit a proposal for a special food sample checking laboratory for the coming festive season.

Minister for Food and Drugs Administration of Maharashtra, Narhari Zirwal, has issued special orders in this regard. Accordingly, a meeting with the FDA officers was held at the District Collector's Office on Monday. Joint commissioner FDA DV Patil, Assistant Commissioner Nikhil Kulkarni, Food Safety Officer PP Surse, ST Jadhavar, Varsha Rode, SB Tayade, MF Siddiqui, PS Ajinthekar and others were present. Considering the demand for sweets and food items during the festival, it is possible that the food items like sweets, farsan, dry fruits and milk items can be adulterated. The residents can suffer severe health hazards due to contaminated and adulterated food items. 

Hence, a special food checking drive should be implemented in the district. The food items, including the milk, khawa, mawa, ghee, sugar, maida and other ingredients, should be checked scrupulously. Strict action should be taken against those involved in adulterated food supplies, Swami directed.

Similarly, an appeal has been made to the residents to take care of the cleanliness of the shops and factories while purchasing sweets. The sweets should be purchased only from the permit holder and registered sellers.