JORHAT, May 25 - Various kinds of toxic elements and chemicals found in fruits, flour, edible oil, milk, turmeric powder and several other substandard food items pose a serious threat to people of Jorhat as the government authorities have not been able to bring to book most of the wrongdoers because of manpower shortage.
Though the Food Safety and Standard Act clearly stated that sufficient food safety officers and supporting staffs should be deployed in every district of the State, Jorhat is yet to get the sufficient numbers of officers to check the violation of food safety rules. Only one food safety officer is assigned to prevent the violations in the entire district which causes serious concern among the conscious citizens of urban Jorhat.
From fruits to flour, many kinds of food items were found to be substandard in different markets of the city and sub-urban areas and only three accused persons could be prosecuted by the food safety officials in 2016 in the city after scientific analysis confirmed three samples of milk, flour and mustard oil as substandard for eating.
�We have collected about 30 samples of various edible items from various markets of Jorhat which were sent to the laboratory in Guwahati for scientific analysis. Those food items were suspected to be substandard. Mass awareness about sub-standard food items is important,� said a senior food safety officer.
However, ripening of banana and mango by prohibited carbide is remaining unabated and the sale of those fruits remained unchecked at various markets which caused serious concern among the citizens of Jorhat.
Violation of food safety guidelines could be detected by the food safety officials today at a production unit of turmeric powder at Dhkaipatti area of the city from which some samples were collected by the officials.
Officials concerned said that accused Subodh Saha fled his production unit just before the team of food safety officials and police reached the spot.
�We have collected some samples of turmeric powder from his unit. All of them seemed to be substandard. However, we will be able to proceed for prosecution after scientist confirmed them as substandard in laboratory,� said a food safety officer of Jorhat.