The Director of Public Health has instructed the Prevention of Food Adulteration Cell in Tamil Nadu to lift samples of ‘idli/dosa' batter from all over the State.
“We have instructed our food inspectors to pick up samples, following the publication of reports of contaminated batter samples being sold in the market,” R.T. Porkaipandian, DPH, told The Hindu . Each of the 150 food inspectors in the State, will have to lift about two samples for analysis.
Last week, CONCERN, a unit of Consumer and Civic Action group, released the results of a study they had conducted on idly/dosa batter samples lifted from Chennai city. They claimed to have found that 55 per cent of the batter had failed in the test conducted. They also said the samples were found to contain hydrogen sulphide producing bacteria.
Dr. Porkaipandian said though the PFA cell lifted samples of all food products periodically, so far no batter samples had been examined.
The results would be available after a week's time, Dr. Porkaipandian added.
