Report

The food safety department has issued a stern warning to eight manufacturers of buckwheat flour, banning the sale of products older than 15 days. This measure comes ahead of Mahashivratri on February 26, when followers typically consume bread made from buckwheat (kuttu) flour to break their fasts.

Legal Consequences for Violators

Sarvesh Kumar, assistant commissioner of the food department, emphasized that manufacturers caught selling substandard buckwheat flour will face legal consequences. “We will file FIRs against manufacturers if people fall ill from consuming expired or contaminated flour,” he said. “Our inspection teams are on high alert.”

Random Testing Before Mahashivratri

Food safety authorities will conduct random tests on buckwheat flour from stores across the city in the days leading up to Mahashivratri to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Rising Cases of Food Poisoning

This increased vigilance follows several food poisoning incidents in previous years. In March of the prior year, over 200 people — including hostel students in Greater Noida — fell ill after consuming tainted buckwheat flour during Mahashivratri. Similar incidents in 2023 resulted in food poisoning for 150 people across NCR due to contaminated buckwheat flour during the festive period. Sources indicate that food poisoning cases linked to expired buckwheat flour have risen by 40% during the holiday season over the past five years. On March 9, 2024, around 250 students from Aryan Residency and APJ College fell ill after eating puris made with old buckwheat flour, Kumar added.

Consumer Guidelines for Safety

The food safety department has also issued consumer guidelines, stressing the importance of purchasing fresh, well-packaged buckwheat flour from reputable retailers.

Source: The Times of India