Chandigarh, October 11:- Haryana Health Minister Aarti Singh Rao has directed the Food and Drug Administration Department, Haryana, to conduct regular inspections, collect samples and take action against those found violating norms to ensure the quality and safety of buckwheat flour and food items consumed during fasting throughout Navratri.
The Health Minister has also appealed to the general public to follow food safety precautions and avoid the sale and consumption of any suspicious food items.
Acting on the directions of Aarti Singh Rao, Dr. Manoj Kumar, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration Department, Haryana, has instructed field officers to keep a close watch on sellers of buckwheat flour and food items consumed during fasting.
In view of the increased demand for buckwheat flour during Navratri and the fasting season, the Food and Drug Administration Department, Haryana, has issued a special advisory for the general public and food business operators. The department has warned that negligence in the safe storage, quality and hygiene of buckwheat flour can make it unsafe, and its consumption may cause serious problems such as food poisoning or foodborne illness. Consuming old, damp, mouldy or contaminated flour may lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea and fever.
According to the standards prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), buckwheat, which falls under the category of coarse grains, must have a maximum moisture content of 13.0 per cent. In addition, the maximum permissible quantity of extraneous matter is 1.0 per cent by weight, including a maximum of 0.25 per cent mineral matter and 0.10 per cent impurities of foreign origin. The maximum permissible quantity of other food grains is 2.0 per cent.
The department has instructed food business operators and shopkeepers to purchase buckwheat flour only from reliable suppliers holding valid licences or registrations issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. At the time of purchase, they must check the packaging date, expiry date, batch number and condition of the packet. The flour should always be stored in a clean, dry, well-ventilated and moisture-free place, away from insects and chemicals. The sale of old, stale, foul-smelling or mouldy flour is strictly prohibited.
In a special appeal to the public, the department has advised consumers to prefer sealed packets purchased from reliable shops and check the FSSAI licence number and other details printed on the packaging. Flour must not be used if it has an unusual smell, a change in colour, lumps or visible insects. Food items prepared with buckwheat flour should be consumed only after being thoroughly cooked. If symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain or dizziness occur after eating, people should immediately contact the nearest doctor and avoid self-medication. The Food and Drug Administration Department has urged citizens to follow food safety standards to protect themselves and their families.
