Lack of testing facilities delays action against substandard food products
Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Mar 8: The court of District Judicial Officer cum ADC Bhagirath Prasad has imposed fines on multiple establishments in Jamshedpur for selling substandard food and milk. Shadab’s Khatal, near Sakchi TB Hospital, was fined Rs 10,000 after failing a quality test conducted by the Food Safety Department for the financial year 2023-24. The court imposed a penalty of Rs 5,000 each for buffalo and cow milk after government lab reports confirmed the milk quality was below standard. Issuing a stern warning, the court stated that repeat violations would lead to doubled fines and stricter legal action.
Three other food vendors also faced penalties. Ganga Regency in Baradwari was fined Rs 5,000 for serving low-quality paneer sabzi, while Misti Bhog in Patel Nagar, Chhota Govindpur, received a Rs 20,000 fine for selling substandard laddu and kheer kadam. Lakhi Eggroll in Sakchi was fined Rs 10,000 for selling inferior paneer and kheer. Ganga Regency management accepted its mistake and assured authorities that such incidents would not recur.
Authorities emphasized strict adherence to food quality standards, warning that future violations would attract stringent action. However, the fight against adulteration is hampered by delays in food testing, raising concerns about timely action. Although the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) mandates that adulterated food items be tested within 14 days, delays in Jharkhand often extend for months due to inadequate testing facilities.
Currently, Ranchi houses the state’s only food testing laboratory, causing bottlenecks in processing samples. Shortages of experts, irregular chemical supplies and lack of essential equipment further hinder timely results. This issue is particularly concerning for dairy products like khoya and paneer, which are often adulterated with harmful substances, posing serious health risks such as stomach aches, diarrhoea and long-term liver and kidney damage.
Ahead of Holi, a special campaign has been launched to curb food adulteration, with samples sent to Ranchi and Kolkata for testing. “Continuous campaigns are conducted against adulteration. The Food Safety Department has been instructed to intensify inspections before Holi,” said Dr. Sahir Pal, Civil Surgeon. However, delays in obtaining test results highlight the urgent need for better-equipped laboratories and faster processing to safeguard public health.
