18% food samples taken in festival season fail in Punjab

Every fifth sample of food items taken in Punjab during the last festival season has failed the quality test.

According to the data provided by the health department, with a view to checking adulteration or the quality of food items, 1,155 samples were taken from October 1 to November 15. The samples included those of milk, sweets and spices. Of the total samples, 208 failed the test that comes around to be 18%.

However, the health department is yet to compile a report of the samples found unsafe for human consumption. "These reports will be compiled and then declared by district health officers who will initiate suitable action," said Dr Harinder Singh Bali, director, health services.

He said a large number of food items found unfit for consumption were also destroyed on the spot.
Now, following the reports, the health department will take the defaulters to court.

According to the health department, Amritsar district topped the list of the failed samples. In Sangrur also, a large number of samples failed.

According to experts, 18% is quite a high number and also an alarming trend. In Chandigarh, the percentage of the failed samples was around 10%.