Punjab Health Department on Friday issued strict instructions to the district health authorities to ensure the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act with an iron hand.
The Department has asked the district level officers to act against big food and beverages operators besides small food shops and street vendors in case of complaints of adulteration.
The instructions were issued by Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Brahm Mohindra while chairing a State-level review meeting of the Food and Drug administration officers.
“It is the duty of the Health Department to ensure that health and hygiene of people are maintained by the supply of nutritious and unadulterated food articles,” he said adding that zero tolerance would be maintained against adulteration of food articles and all complaints of people must be addressed within the stipulated time.
Mohindra exhorted the food safety officers not to confine their activities to raiding food shops only, “instead, they should concentrate on bringing positive results by acting against the miscreants who are playing with lives of people”.
He instructed the officers to ensure the sampling of basic eatables consumed by the citizens such as milk and dairy products paneer, khowa, ghee, seasonal fruits like mango, banana and chikoo. “Adulteration is a serious issue,” he noted while asking the officers to also screen food or canteens in the Government sector.
The Minister said by ensuring the supply of unadulterated food articles, many deadly and chronic diseases like cancer, hepatitis, stomach and gastric disorders could be curbed.
Mohindra directed the State Principal Secretary (Health), Anjali Bhawara, to arrange a special orientation training program for the food safety officers to educate them about modernise sampling techniques and procedures.
Bhanwra asked the district food officers to ensure submission of status reports of mobile test labs to Dr Amritpal Warring, the Nodal Officer,within three days.
She instructed the food safety officers to emphasize on generating more and more awareness regarding the various provisions of Food Safety Act and rights of the citizens in this regard, by using social networking mediums, workshops, seminars and other IEC activities.
The State Drug and Food Administration commissioner Varun Roojam also directed the food safety officers to act with diligence and sincerity to ensure the proper implementation the Food Safety Act.