On the occasion of Diwali, Indore people ate thousands of kilos of sweets without knowing whether they were pure or not. During the festive season, the Food Department took dozens of samples, the report of which has not been received yet. The biggest thing is that Indore, whose food is famous even abroad, has no lab to test the quality of the food.
A living example of the lax attitude and delay with which government systems operate is the food testing lab built at a cost of Rs 20 crore in Talawali Chanda area of Indore. This building was ready months ago, the machines also arrived but the work has not started.
You may be shocked to know that Indore, which is known for its food not only in the country but also abroad, does not have any system to check the quality of food items. This is the reason why samples have to be taken from here and sent to Bhopal for testing. By the time the report comes from there, the food item has already entered people’s stomach.
The foundation was laid five years ago, still waiting to start
The foundation of the Food and Drug Testing Lab to be started at Talawali Chanda near Dewas Naka was laid in the year 2019. Madhya Pradesh Housing Board started the construction of the lab building in August 2020. This work was to be completed by the year 2022, but could not be done.
Sometimes due to Corona and sometimes due to administrative slowness, it kept moving forward. When the work was completed recently, the investigation got stuck in the name of the machines. The lab has cost Rs 20 crore so far.
Despite the building being ready, testing could not begin even after machines were installed in the state’s second modern food and drug lab. Even at present the situation is such that even though the officials are claiming that the lab will become operational soon, the reality is that there is no possibility of testing food items in this lab in the year 2024.
Samples can be tested as per international standards
At present, samples of food items have to be sent to Bhopal and other cities for testing. After the lab starts in Indore, testing can be done only here. Along with this, samples of food items from 15 districts adjoining Indore can also be tested. Food and drug samples are to be tested in Indore as per international standards. This is the reason why all the machines have been installed as per the standards of Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Reports will start coming in a week
At present it takes several weeks for reports to arrive from Bhopal. Even before the report of testing of food items comes, adulterated and contaminated food items are already digested in the stomach of the customers. After the lab starts in Indore, testing reports of food items will start being received within a week. This will make it easier for the department to take action against those selling adulterated food items.
Direct talk with Chief Food Safety Officer Manish Swamy
Question – What is the status of sweet samples, how many samples were taken before Diwali?
We started the sampling campaign from October 1st. During this period more than 350 samples were taken.
Question – At present, reports of how many samples are yet to come from Bhopal?
The investigation of about 450 samples is stuck in Bhopal. Only after their arrival will it be known whether the items whose samples were taken were pure or adulterated.
Question – When can the lab start in Indore?
The matter is stuck in Bhopal. It can be started on trial basis. At present it is difficult to tell when the lab will be able to start.
