The Health Department Punjab has issued strict instruction to the district health authorities to ensure the implementation of Food Safety & Standards Act with iron hand and to act against big food and beverages operators besides the small food shops and street vendors for the complaints of adulteration.The instructions were issued by Minister for Health and Family Welfare Punjab Mr. Brahm Mohindra while chairing the State level review meeting of the Food and Drug administration officers. He said that it is the prime duty of the health department to ensure that health and hygiene of the citizen is maintained by the supply of nutritious and unadulterated food articles. He said that zero tolerance would be maintained against adulteration of food articles and all complaints of the citizens in this regard must be addressed within stipulated time. He exhorted the food safety officers not to confine their activities only to raid food shops instead they should concentrate on bringing positive results by acting against the miscreants who are playing with life of people.The Health Minister instructed the officers to ensure the sampling of the basic eatables consumed by the citizens such as milk and dairy products paneer, khowa, ghee, seasonal fruits like mango, banana and chikoo. He said that the adulteration is a serious issue which directly linked with health and hygiene of the citizen. He asked the officers that henceforth food /canteens in government sector should also be taken into screening.
The Minister said that by ensuring the supply of unadulterated food articles we may curb many deadly and chronic diseases like cancer, hepatitis, stomach and gastric disorders. The Minister also directed the officers to sensitize the public through IEC activities for registering their complaints against adulteration over on-line portal of the department. The Minister also directed the Principal Secretary Mrs. Anjali Bhawara to arrange a special orientation training program for the food safety officers to educate them about the modernize sampling techniques and procedures. The Minister himself wished to be present in this training program.Mrs. Anjali Bhanwra Principal Secretary Health asked to District Food officers to ensure the submission of status reports of mobile test labs to the Dr. Amritpal Warring, Nodal Officer within three days.She instructed the food safety officers to emphasize on generating more and more awareness regarding the various provisions of Food Safety Act and rights of the citizens in this regard, by using social networking mediums, workshops, seminars and other IEC activities. Mr. Varun Roojam Commissioner Drug and Food Administration also directed the food safety officers to act with diligence and sincerity to ensure the proper implementation the food safety Act to guarantee the hygiene and infection protection.