Does SMC test the food items before declaring them free from pig-fat?
15 Jun, 2013An application was filed by the Valley Citizen Council (VCC) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking information regarding how Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) came to conclusion that several packed food items like Maggi, jam and chocolates were not containing any pig fat.
In the reply to the application, the SMC has confirmed that no test was conducted on these food items to confirm whether they contained pig fat. According to the report of Food Safety Officer of the SMC provided in the reply, no sample of maggi and other food items were lifted and no records regarding the tests were available in the office of Health officer.
Now, the VCC has filed a plea with the District Magistrate (DM), Srinagar seeking permission to file criminal case against Commissioner, health officer and other concerned officers in the municipal corporation for declaring food items free from pig-fat without even conducting a test.
Earlier in 2008, the Director General of Health Service, New Delhi had written letters to all states and union territories saying that there were reports that pig fat was being used by multinational companies in food products like chocolate and Maggi violating the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.