Sweet sellers gets warning

The health department has directed all sweet sellers of the district to strictly adhere to the Food Safety Act and maintain good quality of food items and during the coming festive season.

The health department has geared up with surprise check at the sweet shops to ensure the quality of food items served ahead of festive season.

Dr. RL Bassan, civil surgeon said that the sweet sellers had been asked to avoid selling coloured sweets and prepare sweets that can be consumed within a day.

"The sweets sellers should not use artificial 'khoya' and ghee and should not indulge in adulteration in view of the coming festive season. The sweets and other food items should be covered and the sellers should maintain hygienic conditions where the sweets are being prepared. Also the cooks should cut their nails before making sweets", he added.

"The sellers have also been directed to ensure that sweets kept on display are guarded against houseflies and mosquitoes," said Dr Bassan.

He added that according to the Food Safety and Central Act 2006 if the sweet seller prepares 100kg of sweets, they could add just 20gm of artificial colour to it because excess of artificial colours could lead to cancer.

"They should use artificial colour of standard companies", said Dr Balwinder Singh, district health officer.

 He said the raids have been initiated to check adulteration of food items.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, the department had seized 95 kg spurious ghee contained in a big plastic drum. The food safety officer Dr. Harjotpal along with ASI Surjit Singh Rurka Kalan, Goraya raided tailor's shop of Paramjit Singh Pamma of village Mithra when they found that he was providing desi ghee on reasonable rates.

The material was recovered from his tailor shop at village Pasla. The samples of the ghee have been sent to the laboratory.

"We got the information that the accused was selling ghee at low cost to the customers. The further action will be taken as per the report of the food analyst expected to come in two weeks", Dr. Harjotpal added.