The Health Department has geared up to take strict action against adulterators who are playing fast and loose with the health of the city’s residents. In this ongoing drive, a Food Safety Team led by Dr. Ashish Chawla created a stir by conducting special inspection campaigns in areas such as the Haibowal Dairy Complex on Hambara Road, Trishina Nagar, and Civil Lines. This sudden crackdown by the team created an atmosphere of chaos and panic among shopkeepers and dairy operators. During the inspections, the team collected a total of half a dozen samples—including *paneer* (cottage cheese), milk, salt, and cheese analogs—where the quality was deemed suspicious; these samples were immediately sealed and dispatched to the State Food Laboratory for testing.
The team’s campaign was not limited solely to dairies; they also raided a renowned sweet shop located on Gokul Road. During the inspection there, hygiene standards and food storage conditions were scrutinized in minute detail. Dr. Ashish Chawla stated in a stern tone that compliance with FSSAI regulations is mandatory for every business operator, and that any compromise with public health will not be tolerated under any circumstances. He clarified that the primary objective of this campaign is to ensure the supply of safe and pure food products to the general public.
This action by the Health Department has sent a strong message to those business operators who, driven by the greed for higher profits, disregard established regulations. Issuing a stern warning, Dr. Chawla stated that once the laboratory reports are received, if any sample is found to be adulterated or fails to meet the prescribed standards, the strictest possible legal action will be initiated against the concerned culprits. He further instructed Food Business Operators to not only prioritize hygiene and cleanliness but also to rectify their food storage conditions in strict accordance with FSSAI guidelines, thereby avoiding the risk of facing legal repercussions during future inspections of this nature.
