Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the number of samples collected by the officials to check food adulteration has come down over the last three years;
(b) if so, the details thereof, year-wise along with the reasons therefor;
(c) the total expenditure incurred on operation of sample laboratory and the staff engaged thereunder during the said period; and
(d) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 109* FOR 22TH DECEMBER, 2017
(a) & (b): As per Annual Laboratory Test Analysis reports received from States/UTs by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), number of samples collected during 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 are as under:
Year Samples collected
2014-15 84537
2015-16 77941
2016-17 80463
While number of samples collected during 2015-16 decreased as compared to the year 2014-15, the number of samples collected during 2016-17 increased as compared to figures for 2015-16. The variation in figures is attributable to non-submission of annual report by some States/UTs in time, resulting in non-reflection of data.
(c): The food samples to check the food adulteration are being sent by State Food Safety Officers to their respective State Food Laboratories. Therefore, the details of expenditure incurred on operation of such sample laboratories and the staff engaged during the said period is not available with FSSAI.
(d): To curb the menace of food adulteration regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and sampling of food products are being done by the Officials of Food Safety Departments of the respective States/ UTs to check compliance of the standards laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, rules and regulations made thereunder. In cases where the food samples are found to be non-conforming, recourse is taken to penal provisions under FSS Act, 2006. From time to time directions have been issued to State/UT Government for effective implementation and enforcement of FSS Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations made thereunder. Further, to combat adulteration in commonly adulterated food items, such as milk, spices and condiments, honey, water, Oils & Fats, FSSAI has also released a Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test (DART) booklet which is a compilation of common quick tests for detection of food adulterants at household by the citizens themselves so as to induce awareness among the consumers about food safety.
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