Consumer body flags adulterated food menace in Jalandhar

Expressing concern over the rising sale of adulterated and substandard food items, the All India Consumer Protection Organisation (AICPO) has demanded a stringent crackdown, alleging widespread violations of food safety norms by eateries and roadside vendors with inadequate enforcement.

Addressing a press conference, the AICPO Punjab president, Balbir Singh, said the sale of adulterated and counterfeit food products by some hotels, restaurants, roadside vendors and other food business operators posed a serious threat to public health.

He alleged that many fast-food stalls were operating in unhygienic conditions, while several vendors lacked mandatory licences issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), putting consumers at risk.

Singh further claimed that spurious milk, adulterated paneer, substandard edible oil and counterfeit ghee were being sold in the market, exposing consumers to serious health hazards.

He urged the district administration to launch special inspection drives, collect food samples for laboratory testing and take action against vendors operating without valid FSSAI licences.

The organisation will organise a consumer awareness road march in Jalandhar on July 15 as part of its “Shudh Ke Liye Yudh” (War for Purity) campaign. AICPO national president Hari Shankar Shukla is expected to participate in the event.

Singh said the campaign aims to educate consumers about their rights and raise awareness about the dangers of food adulteration. He warned that if effective action was not taken to curb the menace, the organisation would intensify its awareness campaign across Punjab.