Those selling spurious milk, products beware

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 11

In the wake of the upcoming festive season, Kahan Singh Pannu, Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, Punjab-cum-Director, Mission Tandarust Punjab, said strictest action would be taken against everyone involved in the sale of spurious and adulterated milk and milk products.

He said it should be considered a warning because once caught, not only would names of all such people be made public, but strictest action including FIRs under various sections of the IPC would also be registered. Their premises would also be sealed, he said.

Not only do these miscreants, using spurious foods, play with the health of innocent people, but also make dairy farmers, farmers and food producers suffer financial losses and low earnings, by making spurious products available at cheaper prices. While chairing a meeting of Food Safety Officers and senior officials of the Dairy Development Department, Pannu said to ensure that culprits don’t go scot free, the department has purchased hand-held milk testing kits, through which the adulteration can be checked on the spot.

He said people can also use such milk testing kits as they are easily available in the market. Pannu said once the kit detects adulteration in milk, the sample would be sent for further testing in the department’s lab in Chandigarh. He said very soon, a helpline for this purpose would be launched, where people can give information regarding any person involved in selling spurious milk or milk products.

He said after a series of meetings with all halwai associations at the state as well as district level, a week’s time has been given to them to stop this illegal trade or be ready to face action.