The local food safety team destroyed 18 kg of panner to prevent potential public health risks and sent a sample to the state lab for testing, Health Department officials said.
According to the officials, the action came after the team led by District Health Officer Dr Ashish Chawla conducted a special checking drive. During the operation, food items being sold at the vegetable market, especially paneer and fruits, were inspected for quality standards.
The team also inspected paneer being sold at stalls and carts in the market. As some paneer appeared to be not up to the prescribed standards, a sample was collected and sent to the government laboratory for testing.
Food safety officials issued strict warnings and awareness messages to vendors, directing them to immediately stop sale of substandard or suspicious food products. They were informed that if such violations are found in the future, strict legal action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
The Food Safety Department, in coordination with the horticulture and environment departments, conducted a special inspection regarding the artificial ripening of fruits. Teams of food safety officers and Horticulture Department officials inspected ripening centres and storage facilities for papaya, mangoes and bananas.
Fruits being ripened through ethylene gas were checked. The team informed fruit vendors and store owners that non-permitted calcium carbide for ripening fruits was highly harmful to human health. Officials warned strict action would be taken against anyone found using such chemicals.
Keeping in view the summer season, the Food Safety Department appealed to vendors selling vegetables and fruits on carts not to sell cut or pre-cut fruits as it increases risk of bacterial contamination and spread of diseases.
The public was advised to always purchase fresh, clean and properly covered fruits and food items. People were urged to immediately inform the Food Safety Department if they suspected the quality of any food product so public safety can be ensured.
