PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
With the inception of the tourist season and rise in mercury in the State, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) department of the State has come into an alert mode. On Thursday, the department issued a directive for proper storage of packaged drinking water and beverages in the State.
The FDA additional commissioner Tajber Singh Jaggi said that the orders have been issued on the directive of the Health secretary and FDA commissioner R Rajesh Kumar. He said that the demand for cold drinks and packaged drinking water increases manifold during the summer season. Jaggi said that it is seen that the storage of packaged drinking water and other beverages is done in an open place and in an irregular manner which not only affects their quality but also has an adverse impact on the public health.
Kumar said that the State government is committed to safeguarding the health of the citizens. He said that no compromise will be made with the quality of food items and beverages during the sensitive summer season. Kumar said that all the officers have been directed to conduct regular inspections and ensure that the packaged drinking water and other beverages are being sold in the market as per the norms. He said that strict action should be taken against the shopkeepers and suppliers engaged in violation of the norms.
He further requested the consumers that they should use only certified and licensed food products and inform the FDA regarding any irregularity.
