Bhubaneswar
In the background of ongoing rains and ensuing festivities, Food safety enforcements have been intensified in entire State following orders of Government in Health and family welfare department. Odisha State Food Safety Commissioner Dr Poma Tudu has directed to conduct the raids in all urban bodies, growth centres and rural markets.
Raid was conducted in different food shops operating in 30 districts and 06 municipal corporations of BMC, KMC, RMC, Puri, SMC, Sambalpur and BEMC , Bramhapur. Within three days of raid viz. 25th, 26th and 27th August, 3,605 kgs of obnoxious sweet and stale food have been seized and destroyed. The joint raid teams have collected 475 suspected samples for further chemical analysis. An amount of Rs 2,84,500.00 have been collected as penalty from the shop owners. Notice have been served to 189 food establishments. Food safety Designated officer State Head Quarters, Dr Pratikshya Mohapatra said that further legal action would be taken after getting the test analysis report, and the replies of the food establishments to whom notices were served. Available data show, joint raids are being conducted in close coordination among departments of home, housing and urban development and urban local bodies. Sixty-One food safety teams have been constituted for the purpose. The food establishments, and vendors have been warned about more strenuous action in coming days in interest of public health. The food lovers and intelligentsia of different districts have welcomed such move of the food safety wings. Food Safety Commissioner Dr Tudu directed all district teams to continue the enforcement activities, keep strict vigil on the offenders and ensure proper legal action against them.
