By repealing the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, the Government implemented Food Safety and Standard Act, 2011 with effect from November 5, 2011,
but its functioning in the State has been minimal, thanks to want of adequate trained staff and enforcement machineries. The State Government has not appointed a public analyst yet, who is empowered to analyse and report regarding the standard of foodstuffs and drinks and prohibits sale of restricted foodstuffs.
Consequently, no prosecution is filed in any court without his report. Rather, the Government has appointed a few Food Safety Officers, previously known as Food Inspectors under the PFA Act to ensure public health and enforce the Act to prevent adulteration of food and drink. But the officers are not sufficiently trained on sampling work along with other allied works.
“The Supreme Court has recommended life imprisonment for sale of adulterated milk and milk products. We have neither adequate machineries, nor public health laboratories. At present, no prosecution is carried out against the accused although rampant adulteration of food is taking place,” said an official.