STATE TO REVIVE FIVE FOOD SAFETY ON WHEELS VANS, ADD 28 NEW MOBILE LABS; FESTIVAL CRACKDOWN BEGINS ON GHEWAR AND FIRNI
Face2News/Chandigarh
In a major consumer-focused initiative, the Haryana Government is set to bring food safety testing directly to people’s neighbourhoods by reviving five Food Safety on Wheels mobile laboratories and expanding the fleet with 28 new Mobile Food Testing Laboratory (MFTL) vans. The initiative will allow citizens to get food samples tested at their doorstep for a nominal charge of Rs. 20 per sample, making scientific food testing more accessible than ever.
Sharing details, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Sumita Misra, said the initiative is aimed at protecting consumers from adulterated and substandard food while strengthening food safety surveillance across the state. She said the restored mobile laboratories will help people verify the quality of food products they consume and enhance public confidence in the state’s food safety system.
The five Food Safety on Wheels vans, stationed at Panchkula, Karnal, Hisar, Sonipat and Rewari, will be brought back into operation after undergoing complete restoration. Originally supplied under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) programme, the vehicles had become non-functional over time because of mechanical wear and damage to their laboratory infrastructure.
Dr. Misra said the mobile laboratories will enable on-the-spot testing of food samples during inspections, festivals, markets, schools, colleges, fairs and special enforcement drives. Citizens will also be able to get samples of commonly consumed food items tested in their localities without visiting laboratories, making food safety services easily accessible.
The restoration project will involve complete refurbishment of the vehicles as well as the sophisticated laboratory infrastructure inside them, including scientific testing equipment, workstations, plumbing, electrical systems and vehicle components. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 33.79 lakh.
To further strengthen food safety surveillance, the FDA Department is also in the final stage of procuring 28 new Mobile Food Testing Laboratory vans for the National Capital Region (NCR) through the Haryana Medical Services Corporation Limited (HMSCL) with financial assistance from the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB). Once operational, these laboratories will significantly expand doorstep food testing services across the region.
Dr. Misra said the expanded mobile testing network will not only improve enforcement under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, but also create greater awareness among consumers and encourage food business operators to comply with food safety standards.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Haryana has intensified enforcement during the festive season by launching a special drive against adulteration in Ghewar and Firni ahead of Teej and Raksha Bandhan.
Between July 16 and August 2, Food Safety Officers collected 122 samples of Ghewar and Firni from across the state. Of the 18 samples analysed so far, 15 have met prescribed food safety standards, while three samples have been found non-conforming. The remaining samples are under laboratory examination.
Officials also said selected samples labelled as being prepared with Desi Ghee have been sent to NABL-accredited laboratories to scientifically verify the claims and ensure consumers are not misled through false branding.
Dr. Sumita Misra said the state’s strategy combines doorstep scientific testing, stronger enforcement and cosumer awareness to build a safer food ecosystem, enabling people to make informed choices while protecting public health.
