No food testing facility, results take a month

In view of the forthcoming festive season, the health department has initiated a drive to collect food samples.

In view of the forthcoming festive season, the health department has initiated a drive to collect food samples.

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However, the exercise is not likely to yield results.

Reason: Gurgaon lacks a testing facility and the samples have been sent to a Chandigarh-based laboratory, from where the reports will arrive after a month.
Every year, the health department initiates a drive to collect food samples.

In the last 15 days, 12 samples have been collected from sweets shops. But so far the department has not received any report on these.

The authorities are sending regular reminders to the Chandigarh-based centre to speed up the process so that residents don’t consume adulterated sweets. “We have been collecting samples from all sweets shops. Our role ends after the samples are sent to the laboratory for testing. We’ve been sending them reminders, but it takes time to prepare the reports,” said Dr Parveen Garg, chief medical officer.

He further said, “We don’t have laboratories in Gurgaon where food samples can be tested. The samples have to be sent to Chandigarh.”

As per the Food Safety and Standard Act, a fine up to Rs. 5 lakh can be imposed on shopkeepers if a food item is found unfit for human consumption. There is also a provision of imprisonment up to three years.

Nearly 25 shopkeepers have been convicted for selling adulterated food items during the last two years in the district.

With implementation of the Food Safety Standards Act-2006, the authorities were hoping that reports of food samples would be declared within 14 days. CR Rana, commissioner, FDA, could not be reached for comment.