Food Safety Department Launches Special Drive Ahead of Festive Season in Hoshiarpur

Hoshiarpur/Daljeet Ajnoha/Sept. 30
In view of the rising consumption of food items during the festive season and to safeguard public health, the Food Safety Department has launched a special monitoring campaign across the district.As part of this initiative, the Food Safety Team today collected food samples under the directions of Commissioner, FDA Punjab, Mr. Dilraj Singh IAS, and Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, Mrs. Ashika Jain IAS, along with the guidance of Civil Surgeon Dr. Balbir Kumar and District Health Officer, Dr. Jatinder Bhatia. The drive was conducted under the leadership of Food Safety Officer Vivek Kumar. During the inspection, two milk samples, one pickle sample, and two paneer (cottage cheese) samples were collected from different sweet shops in the city. These suspected samples will be sent to the laboratory for scientific testing, and suitable action will be taken under the Food Safety Act after receipt of reports.On the occasion, Food Safety Officer Vivek Kumar stated that under this drive, continuous inspections are being carried out at sweet shops, bakeries, restaurants, wholesale depots, and markets. Special attention is being given to the quality and hygiene of food items to prevent adulteration and the sale of unsafe consumables. He also appealed to consumers to remain vigilant while purchasing food and beverages, to check expiry dates and FSSAI license numbers on packages, and to ensure cleanliness.He further added that if anyone comes across adulterated or suspicious food items being sold, they should immediately inform the Food Safety Department. The Health Department is committed to ensuring the availability of safe and hygienic food so that people can celebrate the festivals with joy, free of any health risks.