Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 28: To help a UP based dairy firm, the Food Safety department allegedly delayed the testing of skimmed milk products for about two months during which the firm completed the sale of the ‘unsafe’ and ‘substandard’ product.
Official sources on Wednesday told Early Times that testing of the sample was deliberately delayed.
“Not only testing of the sample was delayed but the analyst at Srinagar Food Laboratory declared incorrect results,” they alleged.
According to an official communication, Food Safety Officer Bijbehara lifted a sample of Skimmed Milk Powder (B.No.21, Mfg. by Param Dairy Limited U.P, India) vide code No. 149/DO/ANG/008 on 28th of September 2020 and was sent for testing.
A month later, Food Analyst Kashmir declared the product ‘standard’ in his communication vide No. FSSA/K/FA/2021 dated 02-11-2020, however the officials at Anantnag say that they received the analytical report on 23rd of November, 20 days after the Food Analyst Kashmir declared the result of the sample.
On 10th of December last year, the officials of Food Safety Department in Anantnag decided to send the second part of the sample to National Dairy Development Board Gujrat for further testing and a cross check.
12 days later, the officials said, CALF-Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food declared ‘Aerobic Spore Count & Fat of Skimmed milk powder’ was found higher than the prescribed limit, however after 27 days the Food safety department here sought a ‘conclusive opinion’ from the National Dairy Development Board laboratory.
In the month of February this year, the product which was manufactured in February 2020, was declared unsafe and substandard.
The Commissioner Food Safety, Shakeel ur Rehman Rather instantly issued a ‘food alert’ and directed the department to freeze the stock.
Officials in Anantnag confirmed to Early Times that they couldn’t seize a single packet of the skimmed milk as the product of the batch in question wasn’t found anywhere.
“The product manufactured under this batch was consumed by the public,” they admitted.
The departments and its analysts posted in Srinagar food Laboratory have finally come under scanner for delaying the testing of samples lift last year. Officials said that the department took four months to test the sample and declare results. |
