Health department awaits sweets' sample reports

AMBALA: More than a month after the health department conducted raids and took samples of 40 sweets and other eatables in the twin city during the festive season, the department is still awaiting the reports of the samples even though the sweets have already been sold. The authorities during the raids had claimed that the health department would receive the sample reports before Diwali.

According to information, the samples are sent to the lab located in Karnal as Ambala does not have a lab to test the samples. A health department official on condition of anonymity accepted the fact that most of the time the sample reports come after the festival season is over. "Often, the department receives the reports way after the festive season which has been the case in the past several years," he added.

When asked to comment, an Ambala resident, Piyush Pruthi, said, "The health department conducts raids more to send the message to show that they have been acting to stop adulteration. We read news pertaining to raids being conducted at a particular sweet shop but what happens after that is never known."