Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal on Wednesday directed the food safety wing of the Health Department to carry out food sampling in schools and colleges' canteens besides emphasized the need to intensify activities pertaining to awareness and inspections at street vendors, eating joints, restaurants, hotels, sweets/bakery manufacturers, and milk suppliers and other food establishments to ensure they provide safe and healthy food products to the public ahead of Holi festival next month.
During a meeting with health officials at Bachat Bhawan, the Deputy Commissioner expressed the district administration's commitment to eliminating the sale of adulterated food items, which poses significant health risks. He instructed officials to ensure compliance with the Food Safety Standards Act of 2006 among canteens, street vendors, bakery manufacturers, restaurants, hotels, and milk suppliers.
Health officials have been tasked with making surprise visits to the canteens in the schools and colleges, and appropriate action will be taken if any substandard items are found. Jorwal highlighted the importance of checking food packets for batch numbers, manufacturing dates, and nutritional value. He further emphasized that food manufacturers must ensure their workers wear gloves and caps, and maintain clean surroundings.
Food safety officers have been instructed to inspect the premises where food items are commonly produced, particularly as the festival of Holi approaches next month. The Deputy Commissioner emphasized that the department has been actively educating sweet and bakery manufacturers, as well as milk vendors and their employees, about proper hygiene practices in food preparation.
He urged food business operators to cooperate and comply with government guidelines to ensure that safe and healthy food products are provided to the community. Additionally, he instructed food safety officials not to harass any food business operators under the pretense of sampling, and made it clear that those involved in food adulteration will face strict consequences.