Ahead Diwali, the food safety department on Tuesday conducted raids in three outlets selling sweets and other food items at Chas in Bokaro.
Following the complaint of Chhatra Sangharsh Morcha’s President Jitendra Tewari raid was conducted. A team led by Dr N P Singh conducted raids in three outlets Dadiji Sweets, Quality Fast Food and Ambika Verities.
A number of samples were taken for testing of shelf life, use of colouring agents, quality and for growth of micro-organisms such as E. Coli, coliform, salmonella, clostridium, yeast and mould count, said Dr Singh. Rampant adulteration of foodstuffs has become one of the most serious problems affecting consumers during the festivity. Mostly in all festive season most of the traders tend to see it as an opportunity to make hefty profits by selling adulterated food items, said Mamta Kumari a resident of Chas. “Most packed sweets sold by food business operators do not have a date of manufacturing. Officials must intend to create awareness, consumers often face problems with the sweets they buy, but many of these cases go unreported”, she added.
Beside others there are more than 1000 shops in the twin cities which needs to be screened for unhygienic conditions but officials did not pay any heed on it, said Vinod a resident of Bokaro. Time to time officials surprise checks in these outlets may prove boon to the consumers, he said adding “Residents must report cases of unhygienic or unsafe products to the department”.
People must be careful in buying milk sweets during festival seasons. The high protein and fat content in them facilitates the growth of mould and yeast; may causes throat infections, diarrhoea and fever,” Neelam Singh a food analyst.