With an aim to ensure safe and quality food to the people of Punjab as per the vision of Chief Minister S Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Health and family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Wednesday flagged off eight “Food Safety on Wheels' vans from Food and Drugs Administartion, Kharar. With this total numbers of such vans reaches to 15 in the state.
The Health Minister directed all the FDA officials to utilize these food safety vans to their full potential and create awareness among masses specifically students, while, asking them to act in a transparent manner and implement all the policies of the department in true letter and spirit.
He also emphasized that only "Shudh Ann" would lead to "Shudh Mann and Swasth Tann".He reiterated that food adulteration will not be tolerated at any cost and strict action will be initiated against anyone found indulged in such activities.
The Health Minister instructed the Food safety officers to utilise these vans in food testing of mid day meals in state's schools and advised them to carry out their duties in a diligent manner as any dereliction in their duties certainly affects a large population.
Dr Balbir Singh informed that anyone can get his food product tested through these vans at a nominal cost of Rs 50 and seventy types of tests are currently available. He has instructed to upgrade the testing facility to include microbial testing of food to rule out bacterial infection in the food.
Dr Balbir Singh also visited the newly set-up Food Microbiology Laboratory and directed the officials to strengthen the capacities of Lab with respect to testing of Food and Drugs in general and particularly in the field of Pathogens testing, Antibiotic Resistance, Pesticides residue testing and steroids in Gym supplements.
Commissioner Food and Drugs Administration Punjab Dr Abhinav Trikha and Dr Ajai Prakash Gupta, Director FSSAI were also present during the occassion.