“Counterfeit food items are illegal and bypass all mandatory quality checks and pose a grave danger to the health of citizens. It is imperative that the problem is dealt with effectively,” said the Union Health Ministry asking States to take strict action, especially during the festival season.
Health Secretary Preeti Sudan recently spoke to Principal Secretaries of States and Union Territories highlighting the issue of counterfeit food products and suggested periodic checks with the help of police.
In August, the Delhi HC had directed the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare to hold a meeting of Food Safety Departments of the States along with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and submit a report on the manner in which counterfeiting of food products could be tracked, recorded and curbed.
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