Health Department Raids Sweets Shops

Chandigarh, 30th October 2018: Ahead of festival season, the Food Business Operators are gearing up in preparation and storing of sweets, due to which most of the Sweets shops are now loaded with Diwali sweets. Increasing demand could often lead to some shops compromising on the quality through adulteration. Adulteration of sweets and adding artificial colors to make them more attractive has become a major health concern in the recent days. The Food Safety Administration, Health Department, U.T. Chandigarh launched a special drive by constituting a joint team of Food Safety Officers in whole of U.T Chandigarh. The Officers have been directed to check the hygienic condition of the shops selling sweets and also the manufacturing units. Direction was given to lift samples of sweets specially made of khoya and of milk products and to check the use of non-permitted colours. The team raided prominent sweets shops in city today and seized 6 samples of sweets. One unit found preparing sweets in unhygienic condition was challaned under Section 56 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Food Business operators are advised to :

Ø Keep premises clean, free from environmental contamination & pest activity.

Ø All raw materials shall conform to FSSAI standards and from FSSAI licensed vendor.

Ø Use Potable water as ingredients.

Ø Process all food items at adequate temperature for appropriate time.  Hot food above 600C cold food below 50C.

Ø Wash hands before and after handling food and after using toilets, coughing, sneezing, etc.

Ø Use waterproof bandage to cover cuts or burns wounds.

Ø Use clean and separate dusters to clean surfaces and wipe utensils.

Ø Keep separate and covered dustbins for food waste.

Ø Keep storage premises clean and pest & rodent free.

Ø Maintain ambient temperature in storage premises.

Ø Wear clean and protective cloths.

Ø Do not sell expired / spoilt food.

Ø Use only permitted food colours in sweets like Carotenoids, Chlorophylls and chlorophyllin, copper complexes, caramel III- ammonia caramel, Curcumin, Annatoo etc. (or follow as mentioned under Food Safety & Standards Act, Regulations)