The office of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in Mysuru is planning to procure spot food testing kits and a mobile lab for location-based tests on food samples.
After successfully carrying out tests on samples of ‘prasada’ served to devotees at the just-concluded Kumbh Mela at Triveni Sangam in T. Narsipur, the FSSAI office here has resolved to strengthen food investigations, procuring up-to-the-minute devices for conducting tests in a more scientific and specialised manner.
“Such testing kits were being used by food safety officers in Gujarat and Maharashtra. An all-in-one mobile van with a facility for spot analysis of food samples was also available in those States. If we get such facilities, we can certify food cooked in large volumes for serving as prasad in a faster and professional way for safe consumption,” said Chidambara, in-charge officer, FSSAI, Mysuru.
He told that the FSSAI office in Mysuru had approached major food research institutions, including the DRDO’s Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) on the availability of any kits for testing food samples.
“Some food adulterants can be tested on the spot while some require 24 hours to get the result. For quicker tests, the kits can be used,” he said, and added that his department has been carrying out food safety inspections in all government programmes.
He said food safety officers deputed to Kumbh Mela at T. Narsipur checked the quality of prasad right from the time of preparation to distribution. Cooks and others involved in the preparation were sensitised about the safety precautions in the wake of Sulwadi poisoning case.
Dr. Chidambara said his department has also urged the Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru to make it mandatory for the private parties to take prior approval from his office or a competent agency for distributing prasad in temples, especially when the gathering was massive. “Prasada should be distributed only at designated places in and around temples and religious gatherings so that officers can keep tabs on its quality,” he suggested.
Licences
The Food Safety and Standards Act came into force in 2011 and the Centre gave food manufacturers till August 2016 to register and get licences. The time for registration was extended gradually and it was made mandatory for the operators to register from August 2016. However, not all food manufactures have availed the licence and many were unaware about the existence of such an act. A one-time fee of ₹100 was collected for registration. The licence fee ranges from j2,000 to j5,000 depending on the size of the food business and the annual turnover.
“The cooks appointed for making prasada at Kumbh Mela were subjected to health check-ups and were sensitised about keeping personal hygiene and cleanliness of the kitchen as part of ensuring safe food for people. The kitchens were equipped with cameras too,” Dr. Chidambara added.
The Hindu
