Health Department to issue notices to food handlers

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 24

The food wing of the District Health Department will issue notices to four food business operators (FBO) for not possessing registration certificate, a violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSAI), 2006.

The decision of issuing notices was taken after a raid by the district health officer (DHO), along with the food safety officer (FSO), on Friday. The DHO, along with her team, collected food samples from a milk dairy, a restaurant, a dhabha, and a karyana store, near Panjetta village, in Devigarh block of the district.

During raid, newly appointed DHO, Sheily Jatiley, found that food operators did not have a registration certificate or licence of any sort.

As per the relevant Act, FSSAI licence is a must for FBOs having an annual turnover of more than Rs 12 lakh. However, the FBOs that have an annual turnover of less than Rs 12 lakh have to be registered with the food authorities.

The DHO said they would be issuing notice to violators in order to get their registration done as early as possible. “Right now, we will only issue notices to them. Fines will be imposed if they fail to comply with notices,” the DHO added.

10 samples collected

The District Health Department collected 10 food samples from four food handlers during raid. The samples collected by the team, include milk, curd and lassi from milk dairy, one sample each of apple juice and namkeen from karyana store. The team also collected samples of cold drinks and mayonnaise from a fast food shop. Besides, samples of milk, suji and mineral water were collected from a roadside dhabha at Devigarh.