Food Quality Banking On Three Food Safety Officers In Himachal

Neelkant Bhardwaj

The festival season has reached at its zenith in Himachal Pradesh. Therefore the demand of edible products has increased manifold in the market. Different types of sweets and other edible items are making it into the market in Himachal from other states also. But ironically there is no one to check the quality of these products. And the reason behind this is that the food safety department has only three food and safety officers (FSO) in the entire state to check the quality of food products. Therefore it is not difficult to estimate that how would lakhs of population of 12 districts of the state will get quality food products. It has been found in the past too that businessmen were involved in large scale adulteration in sweets to make most of the festive season, which is a direct attack to the health of consumer.

Notably, it is mentioned in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 that only Food Safety Officer can collect samples of different food items. It is the only FSO that takes the matter to the court and violators are punished accordingly. According to departmental sources, the food and safety department that is grappling with the shortage of food and safety officers, designated nine veterinary officers for the job. But surprisingly none of them joined. The department is right now feeling the acute shortage of food and safety officers to check the quality of food products during festive season. The food safety department too admitted that they are facing acute shortage of food safety officers. But the health department is inspecting concerned shops by constituting teams at its level.

Hurting Other Aspects Too

The shortage of food safety officers is hurting other aspects of the concerned business too. Shopkeepers are facing problems in getting new licenses because of it. Besides this, many cases are facing rejection in the courts due to lack of advocacy on the part of health department. Inspection of hotels, mid-day meal, anganwari centres and other food units could not be carried because of lack of food safety officers.

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