Patna: The health department has intensified food safety surveillance and enforcement across state ahead of the festive season, collecting 417 food samples and destroying contaminated, spoiled and expired food items during surprise inspections across the state.Health secretary-cum-food safety commissioner Kumar Ravi said a special statewide drive launched in the last week of Aug aims to ensure the availability of safe, quality and adulteration-free food. Samples of suspected food products have been sent to laboratories for scientific testing, with results expected in the next few days.Of the 417 samples collected till Thursday, 149 were of milk and dairy products, 88 sweets, 60 cereals and pulses, 56 spices and sauces, 33 beverages, 18 street food items and 13 edible oil samples.During inspections, officials also destroyed spoiled peda, barfi, laddus and cakes. The department has stepped up monitoring of milk and dairy products, sweets, edible oils, spices, beverages and prepared food items in view of the upcoming festivals.Food business operators have been directed to strictly follow FIFO (First In, First Out) and FEFO (First Expiry, First Out) norms. Display of FSSAI licences or registrations at food establishments has been made mandatory.The department has also stressed regular cleaning of kitchens and food establishments. Food handlers have been directed to use gloves and hair nets, while establishments have been warned against using heated cooking oil or old sugar syrup for food preparation.Health minister pulls up officials over unnecessary referralsHealth minister Nishant Kumar on Thursday pulled up officials during a surprise inspection of Hajipur Sadar Hospital after finding instances of patients allegedly being referred to higher centres without proper examination and treatment.The minister inspected emergency and ICU wards, doctors’ attendance, treatment facilities and the medicine distribution system. He directed officials to ensure timely treatment for all patients and said no patient should be referred without adequate medical assessment.While examining the referral register, Kumar found cases in which patients were allegedly referred without necessary investigations. In one instance, a patient was referred without a primary examination, while another was referred for abdominal pain without required tests. He ordered an inquiry and appropriate action.The minister also flagged the absence of an ICU doctor and shortcomings in maintaining the offline medicine stock register. Officials were directed to keep both online and offline records updated and ensure adequate stocks of essential medicines, including anti-rabies vaccines.
