13 of 94 food samples fail in mobile testing van

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 12

The mobile testing van service has got a positive response as many residents are turning up to get their food items tested in the city.

Food samples were tested at the Ajit road, Sirki Bazaar and near the city bus stand on Tuesday.

As many as 94 samples were checked on Tuesday, of which 13 failed purity test.

Officials of the Health Department destroyed products that failed tests on the spot.

Four samples each of milk, water, cold drinks and one of ice-cream failed the purity test.

On Monday, 56 samples were brought for testing, of which three failed the test.

The mobile testing van service was started in the district on June 4 and it will continue till June 29.

Dr Sanjay Katiyal, Food Safety Officer, said, “We want that maximum city residents must avail of the service so that they can know whether they are eating/drinking hygienic food, as per the stipulated guidelines of the FSSAI. Residents can bring milk, milk products, tea leaves, spices and condiments, sugar and water among other edibles.

Shopkeepers were instructed to maintain proper hygiene and cleanliness and asked to check their stock at regular intervals.

For sealed or packaged products, residents need to check whether the packaging bears the name of the product, weight, MRP, manufacturing date, expiry date, batch number and full address of manufacturing unit.

Dr Katiyal added that it had been observed that pulses and spices were not being sold as per the FSSAI guidelines by a few shopkeepers in the city and it could invite penalty.

Shopekeepers were also exhorted to get the licensing and registeration process done properly.