Delhi govt's food safety dept to start campaign to check buckwheat flour stocks ahead of Navratri

New Delhi: Delhi government's Food Safety department will run a campaign ahead of Navrati festival next month to check the stocks of buckwheat flour in the national Capital, officials said on Saturday.

Buckwheat flour, popularly known as 'kuttu atta', if infected with fungus can cause food poisoning owing to development of aflatoxin in it.

Last April, cases of illness due to consumption of spoiled 'kuttu atta' were reported

from Delhi's Kalyanpuri, Trilokpuri and Mehrauli areas, officials said.

"People who consume spoiled 'kuttu atta' may fall ill. So, they should prefer to use packed 'kuttu' four to avoid chances of any fungal infection.," said Neha Bansal, food safety commissioner of Delhi government.

The loose quantities of these buckwheat flour, if stored in unhygienic condition for long, may develop fungal growth and also get infested with insects. The fungus produces aflatoxin which is harmful for health, she said.

"In view of use of 'kuttu' flour on a large-scale during Navratri. the Food Safety department will conduct special inspection drive ahead of the festival to ensure shopkeepers do not have 'kuttu atta' unfit for consumption," Bansal said.

The food safety officers in the districts have been asked to visit marketplaces and check samples of buckwheat flour to ensure it is not spoiled. The drive will start soon,

said another officer of the department.