Bhubaneswar: The state government has intensified food safety enforcement across the state in view of the ongoing rains and the upcoming festive season, with authorities conducting raids on food establishments in all 30 districts.
Acting on the directions of State Food Safety Commissioner Poma Tudu, joint enforcement teams have been conducting inspections at food shops, eateries and vendors in urban areas, growth centres and rural markets. During raids conducted from August 25-27, the teams seized and destroyed 3,605 kg of stale and unsafe food items, while collecting 475 suspected food samples for detailed chemical analysis.
The enforcement drive also resulted in the collection of Rs 2.84 lakh in penalties from food business operators. Notices were served on 189 food establishments found violating food safety norms. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) recorded the highest quantity of food items destroyed at 787 kg.
Officials collected 61 samples and imposed fines amounting to Rs 68,500 in the BMC area.
Similarly, 570 kg of food items were destroyed in the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) area, while 123 kg were destroyed in the Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) area following detection of adulteration and other violations. At the district level, the drive resulted in the destruction of 120 kg of food items in Puri, 98 kg in Baleshwar, 95 kg each in Dhenkanal and Kendrapada, and 70 kg in Sundaragada. The department also imposed fines of Rs 44,000 in Kendrapada, Rs 28,000 in Dhenkanal and Rs 31,500 in Bhadrak for violations detected during the inspections. Food Safety Designated Officer at the State Headquarters Pratikshya Mohapatra said further legal action would be initiated after the test reports of the collected samples are received and replies to the notices are examined.
The raids are being conducted in close coordination with the Home department, Housing and Urban Development department and urban local bodies. Sixty-one food safety teams have been constituted to carry out the enforcement drive across the state. The authorities have warned food business operators and vendors of stringent action in the coming days if they are found compromising food safety standards and public health.
Food Safety Commissioner has directed all district food safety teams to continue the enforcement activities, maintain strict vigil on offenders and ensure appropriate legal action against those violating food safety regulations. The intensified enforcement drive has been welcomed by consumers and citizens in several districts, particularly in view of the approaching festive season when demand for sweets and other prepared food items increases.
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