Residents demand strict action against erring food business operators in the district in view of samples of milk and its products repeatedly failing quality tests.
According to official data, 211 samples of milk and various milk products, tested over the past two years, failed quality tests and were deemed “substandard”, raising concerns over the quality of food being sold at markets across the district.
A total of 1,220 samples of milk and its products, including curd, paneer, desi ghee and lassi, were tested in the given time period.
Locals urged the Food Safety Department to ensure strict action, including cancellation of licences, against the erring vendors.
As per the data, 71 samples of paneer failed quality tests, the highest among all products. It was followed by desi ghee, with 27 of its samples failing quality checks.
Residents said the authorities must ensure strict punitive measures.
Amarbir Kaur, a local, recounted how her family suffered food poisoning after consuming spurious paneer. “It is not enough to impose fines. Licences of such vendors should be cancelled. Only then will others take food safety seriously,” she said.
She is not alone. Several residents urged the Health Department to conduct mass checks across dairy units and sweet shops, arguing adulteration in staple products, like milk and paneer, posed a grave risk to public health. “The figures show adulteration is not an isolated problem, but a recurring menace. Strong deterrent action is the need of the hour,” said another resident.
The authorities, however, said the Health Department was taking continuous action against erring vendors.
District Health Officer Dr Ashish Chawla said the department had adopted a multi-pronged approach. “Special drives are conducted to check milk products. On-spot challans are slapped on vendors operating in unhygienic conditions. For substandard food items, cases are filed in the court of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, where penalties can go up to Rs 5 lakh. If a sample is declared unfit for human consumption, the matter is taken to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, where fines may reach Rs 10 lakh, along with six months’ imprisonment,” he said.
The Health Department also runs a mobile food-testing programme.
12 milk samples collected
The local Food Safety Team carried out a special enforcement drive on Friday and collected 12 milk samples.
Officials said the drive was to monitor the supply of milk during morning and evening hours across the district.
Divulging details, Dr Chawla said nakas were set up at various entry points of the city and thorough checking of milk supply was carried out. He said four loose milk samples were collected during the morning hours and eight samples were taken at nakas set up on Hambran Road and at Haibowal in the evening.
Dr Chawla said checking — both in the morning and the evening — was essential as milk supply continued throughout the day.
The samples were sealed and sent to an accredited laboratory for analysis. He said strict action will be taken, in accordance with the law, if any violation is detected in the laboratory reports.