Amritsar: Food safety wing raids gachak-making unit

Amritsar, January 11

Officials of the Food safety wing of the district Health Department raided a food factory operating in Kot Khalsa area of the city on late Wednesday evening. The officials found that ‘gachak’, a favourite delicacy eaten during the winter season, was being prepared in highly unhygienic condition.

The sweet is made by mixing dry fruits, mostly peanuts with jaggery. Assistant Food Commissioner Rajinderpal Singh said, “As per admission by the factory owners, the unit has been functioning since 2013. Recently, we had received information that there was lack of cleanliness and hygiene on the premises of the unit.”

The owner of the illegal manufacturing unit has been identified as Daulat, a resident of Rajasthan. The inspection team revealed that the utensils used for cooking were so dirty that it seemed as if these were not washed for months.

“Though the factory owner claimed that he cleans the utensils and kitchen area daily, judging from things and looking at everything it was obvious that no efforts were ever made to ensure cleanliness,” said the Assistant Food Commissioner.The health team has issued a challan to the factory owner. “We have also issued a notice for improving hygiene on the premises, especially the kitchen area, of the unit. We would conduct an inspection again after seven days and if the owner failed to do the needful, the manufacturing unit would be sealed,” he said.

The officials also collected samples of ‘gachak’, jaggery and namkeen bhujjia prepared by the manufacturing unit. The health officials also appealed to the general public to inform the department of such manufacturing units in their area, which manufacture or sell substandard quality foods.