Punjab govt announces Rs 5 crore for modernisation of food

The Punjab Government today announced Rs five crore for modernisation of the food safety department and also launched its first mobile testing lab facility to check adulterated food products in the state.
"By ensuring the supply of nutritious and unadulterated food products, many deadly diseases such as cancer, Hepatitis and gastric disorders could be curbed," Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Brahm Mohindra said in a statement.
The state government has also decided to organise capability building programme-cum-special training for assistant food commissioners, food safety officers and designated officers of the health department to provide them with relevant and practical insights into food safety standards, and related legal provisions under the Food Safety Standards and Regulations Act 2006 and 2011.

Mohindra said the state government will also recruit 20 food safety officers for the smooth functioning of food safety branch.
He said the drive has already been intensified in the state with "zero tolerance" against adulteration of food articles.
He said 1,458 samples of food items were found unsafe and adulterated in the state during 2016, and alleged in the past 10 years, the quality of food had deteriorated.