Sweets under FDI scanner in Nashik

NASHIK: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has collected 32 samples from various sweet shops to check for adulteration as part of its month-long drive during the festive season.
Speaking to TOI, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Nashik division, Chandrakant Pawar said, "As many as 15 samples have been collected on Monday, while the remaining have been collected since the drive was launched on October 5.The samples will be checked for quality and adulteration."
The FDA has also decided to keep an eye on adulterated 'mawa' or 'khoya', which arrives from outside the city for preparation of sweets during the festive season. Mawa or khoya is dried milk used in sweets. If the fat content in mawa is not as per the prescribed limit, it cannot be used in sweets. Mawa needs to have a minimum of 30% milk fats. It can be adulterated using sugar and starch.
Pawar said that samples are checked for adulteration and other parameters. "Certain standards have been specified for use of quality of edible oil, the foil used over sweets is also checked if it is aluminium or silver and permitted colours that are used in biscuits, ice-cream and sweets. Though not injurious to health, these can only be used to a certain limit," he said.
FDA officials cautioned citizens against purchasing sweets from shops that come up only for a few days during Diwali, which could sell adulterated products at cheaper rates to earn profits. Consumers should prefer reputed shops that guarantee quality of products.
There are about 400 shops registered with the FDA in the city. The officials have appealed to citizens to get bills from shops and also check the date of expiry on the products.