Khurda: The maintenance of food safety standards in the district headquarters here is suffering due to lack of permanent food safety officer (FSO).
Sources said the post of food safety officer (FSO) has been lying vacant since the formation of the district headquarters. At present, the food safety officer appointed in Bhubaneswar has been given additional charge of the district.
Due to unavailability of the food safety officer, there is rampant sale of spurious and adulterated food items by traders. Food stalls, roadside eateries, hotels and restaurants are rampantly using spurious food items in the absence of any officer to check and implement the safety norms.
Although the practice is going on right under the nose of district administration, the health department is oblivious of it. There are guidelines under the Orissa municipal act that the municipal health officer will regularly examine food at roadside eateries and hotels, and seize and destroy adulterated and spurious items. But the norms are being ignored in the district.
Recently, the state food commissioner while reviewing the food safety measures in various districts had expressed disappointment over the vacancy of Khurda food safety officer. The commissioner had directed all officials concerned to take steps in this regard. Sources say the district headquarters has five restaurants, over 20 hotels and six dhaba (roadside eateries). The food stalls offer lassi, fried snacks and other food items to the people with scant regard to safety measures. Although there are specific guidelines to open an eatery, most of the vendors are not aware of it.
Sources said food safety act 2011 was implemented in order to protect people from spurious and adulterated food. Violation of norms can invite a penalty of up to `10 lakh and imprisonment up to 6 years. However, the vendors are even not aware of such laws.
When contacted, food safety officer Arun Kumar Chatterjee said, “I am the in-charge of Bhubaneswar and holding additional charge of Khurda. I hardly get time for Khurda. Still we conduct raids at food stalls to examine the food.”
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