Sweets shops, dairies checked in Mohali district

Tribune News Service

Mohali, October 20

In order to ensure clean, hygienic and quality food items to people during the ongoing festive season, a food safety team of the District Health Department conducted surprise checks at sweets shops and dairies in the Kharar and Mullanpur areas.

District Health Officer Subhash Kumar said on the instructions of Health and Family Welfare Minister OP Soni and Civil Surgeon Dr Adarshpal Kaur, the food safety team checked the quality and durability of sweets and milk. The team collected a total of nine samples of milk and milk products, which have been sent to the Kharar lab for testing. He said all sweets shops and dairies on the Jhungian road, Kharar, and Mullanpur were inspected. Samples of milk, curd, ‘khoya’, milk cake and ‘kalakand’ were collected.

Dr Subhash Kumar said shopkeepers were directed to mention the expiry date of sweets on the tray. During the checking, the shopkeepers were also instructed to follow the guidelines issued by the district administration and the Health Department to curb the spread of the Covid. They were told to wear gloves and face masks and not allow anyone to enter the shops without a face mask.

The shopkeepers were also briefed on the Food Safety Act. They were asked to sell pure and unadulterated items and pay special attention to cleanliness. He said the checking was not meant to harass anyone, but to ensure that clean and quality food items were made available to people.

The District Health Officer said: “A mobile testing van is moving throughout the district. People can get the quality of any food item checked at the van. The van is equipped with modern machinery, which is capable of checking the quality of milk, RO water or plain water, turmeric, salt, pepper, spices, cold drinks, desi ghee, etc. A fee of Rs50 per item will be charged”. Food Safety Officer Lovepreet Singh was also part of the inspecting team.

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