JALANDHAR
In a concerted effort to combat food adulteration, a team of Punjab Food Safety officials today conducted a comprehensive inspection at the Basti Adda Fish Market in Jalandhar. The operation was led by Dr. Harjot Pal Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety, under the directives of Commissioner Abhinav Trikha. The team included Food Safety Officer Mukul Gill and Senior Fisheries Officer Shubhwant Kaur.
Assistant Commissioner said that during the inspection, seven shops were scrutinized, focusing on raw fish sourced from states such as Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Utilizing on-the-spot testing kits provided by the Food and Drug Administration, Punjab, the team assessed the fish for the presence of formalin—a chemical sometimes used to prolong shelf life but hazardous to human health. He further stated that the government is determined to eliminate the use of formalin in fish products to ensure consumer safety.
He highlighted that in a parallel operation, Food Safety Officer Prabhjot Kaur has seized eight samples of paneer and one sample of fat spread from the Nakodar and Shahkot areas. These samples have been sent for analysis to verify their compliance with food safety standards.
Assistant Commissioner Dr. Singh emphasized that such inspection drives will continue in future also. "Our goal is to eradicate food adulteration and ensure that the public has access to safe and quality food products," he stated. The public was also encouraged to report any suspicious food-related activities to the authorities to aid in these efforts.
These initiatives reflect the Punjab government's commitment to upholding food safety and public health standards across the state.