Meerut: To keep an eye on the food being prepared at the camps, hotels and dhabas in the city for kanwar yatra, the Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) has brought the food being served to the devotees under the scanner.
Concerned about the food being prepared and served to the pilgrims, the FSDA authorities have issued a set of guidelines to the kanwar camp owners and divided the district into 15 zones so as to keep a tab on the food quality being served.
“A huge number of kanwariyas will be passing through the city till Shivratri on July 21. Various city-based NGOs and religious groups have set up camps and temporary food stalls in the city to provide food to the kanwariyas. Considering the huge number of people who will be eating this food, we are keeping a scanner on the food being prepared at these camps,” said Archana Deeran, designated food officer, FSDA, Meerut district.
“The district has been divided into 15 zones and duties of various food safety officers finalised for each zone. They will keep a check on the food being sold.
“Also, instructions have been given to send the rate list of food items being sold at these food outlets and also to ensure that only branded spices are used for preparation of food,” said Sarvesh Mishra, chief food safety officer.
The samples will be sent to the food testing laboratory in Lucknow and their results will arrive in a month’s period. The samples will be sent to the state capital to avoid any tampering at the lab in Meerut.
“We have also issued instructions to the kanwar camp owners to ensure that no guideline is flouted and no stale food is provided at this time, especially because the speed of food deterioration increases in monsoon season,” said Deeran.
Meanwhile, the authorities of drug administration, a wing of FSDA, have set up a 24-hour service van, which will remain on wheels and will provide free medicines to the kanwariyas.
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