Soon, KMC to introduce food testing vans

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will soon introduce mobile food testing laboratories where citizens can get suspicious food samples tested at a nominal cost. The move is aimed at strengthening the civic body's drive to ensure

quality food.

Atin Ghosh, member Mayor-in-Council (MMIC), health said: "We are introducing these mobile food labs in the city as a measure towards food safety. Citizens can now call on a toll free number and get any suspicious food samples tested at these mobile labs. Food samples could include a range of edible items both cooked and uncooked.

One can get milk, spices, meat and other edible ingredients instantly tested in order to remove doubts on their minds regarding the

concerned item."

A senior food safety official said it will not only give teeth to our drive in checking the quality with this mobile unit but also help common people check the quality of food through the infrastructure available at this mobile vehicle. However, the common people have to pay a fee for checking their food stuff," the official added.

As per sources at the KMC, it was FSSAI who had given the proposal to the state government for using such mobile vehicle for checking the quality of food.

The proposal was then forwarded to the KMC's health department, which has been conducting drives against inferior quality of food and the later had accepted it gleefully.

The Centre has stated that they will be providing Rs 5 lakh a year for the infrastructure in the vehicle.

For three years, they will be providing Rs 15 lakh.

"If somebody wants to assess the quality of food from a hotel or a restaurant,

he can do it from the mobile vehicle. The rates will vary according to the types of food," a senior food safety officer said adding that the rates will be available with the

vehicle itself.