In view of the festive season, the Health Department has exposed a factory producing counterfeit food products. The department’s team seized 165 kg of counterfeit khoya, 725 kg of dried milk, and 165 kg of ghee from the factory. Punjab Health Minister Balbir Sidhu has issued instructions to the Civil Surgeons, Assistant Food Commissioners, and District Health Officers of all districts, noting that the demand for milk increases in the markets during the festive season, and people use dried milk to prepare khoya, cheese, and other foods, which are harmful to health. In view of this, more raids should be conducted and samples should be collected.
Following the directives of Punjab Food and Drug Commissioner Dilraj Singh, District Magistrate Sakshi Sahni, and Civil Surgeon Swaranjit Singh Dhawan, a team led by Assistant Food Commissioner Rajinderpal Singh, posted in the District Food Safety Wing, including Food Safety Act officers Satnam Singh and Amandeep Singh, led by police from Lopoke police station, raided the factory of Shinder Singh, son of Wassan Singh, in Tapiyala village. Khoya was being prepared by mixing vegetable oil with dried milk. In addition to the working furnace, 165 kg of counterfeit khoya was recovered.
Rajinderpal Singh stated that samples of the prepared khoya were taken and destroyed in the presence of Shinder Singh and the police. 725 kg of dried milk and 165 kg of vegetable ghee were recovered from the scene. The Health Department sealed the khoya manufacturer, and Shinder Singh was warned that if he continues to produce counterfeit khoya, he will face action under the Food Safety Act. Additionally, the department’s team raided other locations and collected samples of three sweets, including roasted burfi, silver-plated burfi, and khoya burfi.
Adulteration will not be tolerated at any cost.
Assistant Food Commissioner Rajinderpal Singh told Punjab Kesari that adulteration will not be tolerated at any cost. He appealed to the public to check the expiry date of any food item purchased from a shopkeeper to ensure they are not selling expired goods. If anyone in your vicinity is found to be adulterating, inform the department. Your name will be kept confidential, and strict action will be taken against the seller. Send samples to Chandigarh for testing.
Rajinderpal Singh stated that the samples collected have been sent to a Chandigarh lab for testing. Anyone found to be deficient in food will be prosecuted under the Food Safety Act and a case will be filed in the High Court. For which the person selling food items can be punished along with fine.
