A special inspection drive conducted by Maharashtra's Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) department on food manufacturing units during the festivities found products like edible oil, ghee, chocolate and sweets to be more substandard in quality. During Diwali, edible oil and ghee were found to be more adulterated in comparison to other raw products.
From August to November first week, the FDA had seized adulterated food in an inspection drive before the four festivals — Ganpati, Navratri, Dussehra, and Diwali, celebrated across the city.
As per the FDA food inspection data, the drive was carried out in 13 zones across the city.
More than 45 samples and 5,441 litre of ghee and edible oil was collected in the three months of inspection. Over 3,871 kg of sweets were seized and 54 samples were taken for laboratory testing.
Besides these, other products like special barfi, chocolate, farsan of around 1,743 kg were seized and 36 samples were sent to the laboratory for inspection.
According to FDA officials, apart from edible oil, ghee, chocolate, and sweets, other products such as mawa, milk, paneer, and various milk products along with raw food products are also inspected.
One of the FDA officials said, "Usually, the demand for these products during the festival season increases because of which, to make brisk business, adulteration becomes rampant. Before Diwali, oil and ghee were seen to be more adulterated than sweets, mawa, and chocolates. Around 3,909 litre of oil and ghee was seized and 16 samples were sent for a laboratory test, 15 days before Diwali begun."
The inspection will be carried out till December 31. To control the food adulteration issue, the FDA department has launched a special toll-free number for the citizens to file complaints about food adulteration.
AT YOUR SERVICE
- The special inspection drive will be carried out till December 31.
- To control food adulteration, the FDA has launched a special toll-free number for the citizens to file complaints about food adulteration.
