Food Safety Wing Cracks Down Heavily On Substandard Edibles

The Punjab Government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has adopted ‘Zero-tolerance Policy’ against substandard edible items. The food safety wing is keeping a strict vigil on vendors selling food and beverages due to the upcoming festive season to ensure that nothing harmful or adulterated reaches the consumers.

The Food Safety wing has formed flying squads, and these teams have been given the authority to inspect vendors selling food and drinks. Under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, anyone found selling substandard food items faces a heavy fine imposed by the court of the Additional Deputy Commissioner cum Adjudicating Officer (Food Safety) of the district. If any sample is found to be inedible, the case will be filed in a judicial court.

The Food Safety wing is committed to providing safe and healthy food to people under its slogan "If it is not safe then it is not food", thus leading an awareness campaign to provide clean food and drink products to the people of Punjab with the aim of "A person who is aware of any kind of food adulteration can lead a better life".

Under the slogan “If it is not safe, it is not food”, the Food Safety wing is committed to providing safe and healthy food to people. The Food Safety wing is also running an awareness campaign to provide clean eatable products to the people of Punjab with the objective “A person who is aware of any kind of food adulteration can lead a better life”.

The department has launched a number of new initiatives, in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), to improve the quality of food and beverages in the state. Further, to ensure the quality of food and beverages, sampling and inspections are performed.

The department is continuously sensitizing shopkeepers for registration and license under the Food Safety and Standards Act. So far, the department has issued 1,65,783 licences and registrations to food business operators.

The FSSAI has deployed seven mobile food safety vans across Punjab as part of the 'Food Safety on Wheels' programme to check the quality of food items. Food safety training and quality control of food items are conducted in various districts using these vans, in addition to raising public awareness. The vans are fully equipped for food testing, and reports are provided on the spot.

Apart from that, the department conducted checks in vegetable markets and prohibited

the use of calcium carbide—a chemical used to artificially ripen fruits—and the practice of acid washing to increase the shine of ginger.