Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, August 19

In order to ensure clean, hygienic and quality food items for people, a food safety team of the District Health Department conducted a surprise check at a sweets factory and a sweets shop in Zirakpur.

District Health Officer Dr Subhash Kumar said the team checked the quality and the expiry date of the sweets. The team also collected samples of ‘khoya’ and ‘patisa’ and sent these to a lab for testing.

According to Subhash, traders were also directed to indicate the expiry date of the sweets on the tray. Apart from this, the food safety team also collected 15 samples of red chilli, turmeric, water and other items through the food safety van moving around the district.

During the checking, the shopkeepers were instructed to follow the guidelines issued by the District Administration and the Health Department to curb the spread of the Covid pandemic. Shopkeepers were instructed to keep their premises clean and not to sell expired products.

The shopkeepers were also told to wear gloves and masks and not allow anyone to enter the premises without mask. They were also briefed on the Food Safety Act. They were asked to sell pure and unadulterated items and pay special attention to cleanliness.

Subhash said checking was not meant to harass anyone, but to ensure that clean and quality food items were made available to the people.

The District Health Officer also said the mobile testing van was moving throughout the district. People could get the quality of any food item checked at the mobile testing van. The van was equipped with modern machinery that was capable of checking the quality of milk, RO/plain water, turmeric, salt, pepper, spices, cold drinks, desi ghee, etc. A fee of Rs50 per item would be charged per sample.

Samples collected

District Health Officer Dr Subhash Kumar said the team checked the quality and the expiry date of the sweets. The team also collected samples of khoya and patisa and sent these to a lab for testing. Apart from this, the food safety team also collected 15 samples of red chilli, turmeric, water and other items through the food safety van that is moving around the district.