8.7% samples of food testing vans in Chandigarh fail to meet quality regulations

As part of the increased awareness on public health, residents of Chandigarh are increasingly turning to mobile food testing vans to check the safety of everyday consumables such as milk, water, ghee and cooking oil. Operated by the Health Department in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), these mobile vans have tested 4,939 food samples in the past year — out of which 432 or 8.7 per cent failed quality standards.

The initiative allows citizens to get their food items tested on the spot for just Rs 20 per sample. These vans, equipped with compact laboratories, travel to various colonies and market places across the city, especially during morning hours when fresh food items are purchased. The service has proven especially useful for families and health-conscious individuals looking to avoid adulterated products.

Among the key findings are milk samples diluted with water and desi ghee tainted with vanaspati oil. Of the 340 milk samples tested, several failed, while two ghee samples contained unsafe substitutes. Some drinking water and raw edible oils also failed to meet minimum quality benchmarks. Officials revealed that 4,508 samples passed the safety test, but those that failed included paneer, sweets, spices and even snacks laced with non-permitted colours and additives.

A particularly alarming discovery was that 30 food samples were found to be contaminated with industrial oil — a substance never meant for human consumption. Experts warn that long-term exposure to such adulterants can lead to severe health consequences, including liver and gastrointestinal issues.

To increase accountability, the vans also conduct random surprise inspections in local markets, with special focus on edible oils sold in bulk — a category frequently found to be adulterated. Vendors found repeatedly selling substandard food are blacklisted.

Sukhwinder Singh, designated officer at the FSSAI, Chandigarh, noted the encouraging rise in citizen participation. “People are now proactively bringing samples from local dairies and street vendors to be tested. On Saturday, we organised a drive outside the Sector 33 park between 6 am and 9 am. We cover more sectors every week, and our second van, which was commissioned in 2018, is stationed at different civil hospitals on scheduled days,” he said.

Each van is equipped with a compact laboratory to analyse 14 categories of food, including spices, cereals, snacks, tea, sugar and various processed items. The initiative has also helped in identifying blacklisted vendors and reducing health hazards.

The mobile vans are equipped with both advanced and portable testing tools.