FDA seize 300 kg of barfi

A special drive conducted by the Food and Drug administration (FDA) to curb adulteration during the festive season has resulted in FDA offcial's seizing 300 kg of special barfi and around 50 samples of various edibles on Sunday.

FDA seize 300 kg of barfi

“Acting on a tip-off, we seized the barfi, which was being imported from Gujrat, because it wasn’t transported in a refrigerated van. Moreover, when we checked the date of packing, nothing was mentioned on the plastic containers. We have send the samples to the laboratory for quality and other checks,” said Shivaji Desai, assistant commissioner FDA (Food).u00a0

Representation pic

“Considering it’s Diwali, we are keeping a close watch on the edibles coming from other states. Adulteration is the major problem faced during this season, hence we are carrying out this drive,” said Desai.

Pune FDA had started a special drive before the Ganesh festival, and with Diwali considered as the peak festive season, chances of adulteration in food products, especially sweets, the officials decided to intensify efforts during Diwali. FDA had recovered around 415 kg khoya during Ganapati festival.

Elaborating on other similar activities carried out by the FDA, Desai said Pune FDA have taken various samples of ingredients from random shops in the city. “Our team has collected 25 samples of edible oils, 31 samples of sweets, 20 samples of Khoya, and four samples of vegetable oil and ghee, and also sample of silver foil used to garnish sweets. Gram flour has also been collected from various shops. All samples have sent to the laboratory and reports are awaited,” Desai added.

FDA also seized a blended oil container worth Rs 2 lakh belonging to Kargil India Co, “Acording to the Food Safety Act, there is a provision to mix two oils, but each container should not weigh more that 15 litres. When we checked the above company’s oil container, they weighed more than the specifications. Hence, we seized around 136 containers of blended oil from the Kurkumbh-based firm. ”u00a0

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