Several packaged food samples fail  quality test-Dailybhaskar–News

Jaipur: If you think that packaged food is safe, then be careful.  In an inspection by the health department, a total of 133 packaged food samples were found unsafe for consumption. These included packaged food by all major brands which people can mostly buy at malls.

Besides, 205 samples out of the total 2,713 were found substandard.

The names of another 286 samples resembled the names and appearances (logos, packet shape & colour etc) of established brands.

The inspection was carried out at various places like hotels, malls, shopping stores, railway stations, bus stands etc in the state between August 2011 and January 2013.

Giving this information, director of health and medical services BR Meena said that samples were collected from many places in the state. Notably, consumers usually have complaints against packaged spices and cold drinks. “We recently came across a case in which a cockroach was found in a snack meant for kids. This is dangerous and we have forwarded the compliant to the lawyers,” said Krishna Acharya, a consumer rights activist.

Sources said that consumers have been filing complaints at several forums against adulteration in packaged juices, drinking water etc. There are not enough food testing labs in the state.

There is only one food testing lab in Sethi Colony in Jaipur. In total, there are just six government labs to test the quality of packaged food in the state. “Food Safety and Standards Act was established in the state but it’s not being reinforced properly,” said Anant Sharma of Consumer Action and Network Society. Notably, the state government had started ‘Shuddh Ke Liye Yuddh Abhiyaan’ a few months back but the drive has lost its steam.