Cleanup drive for ditchwater golas

After receiving complaints, Food and Drug Administration flying squads to check roadside vendors that sell golas, sherbets in the summer

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has begun a crackdown on roadside vendors that sell summer specials like kulfi, gola, mango pulp and sherbets after receiving several health-related complaints.



FDA Commissioner Dhanraj Khamatkar said, "Those endangering lives to make a few extra bucks should know that we are watching." The drive will be enforced in full swing from next week and continue till mid June.

Random checks

Suhas Chaudhari, FDA's joint commissioner for Greater Mumbai, said the decision has been taken with the assistance of the BMC's health department.

Special instructions have been given to FDA's food inspectors to carry out random checks across the city. "Our aim is not to target the small vendors, but to reach the source from where the ingredients are procured," explained Chaudhari.

Jairaj Thanekar, BMC's executive health officer, added, "We conduct such drives regularly."

Docs say...

Doctors warn that if special care is not taken while eating outside food, the chances of getting stomach ailments are very high. "Also, roadside juice vendors use the same glass to serve many people without washing it properly," said Dr Ashish Tiwari, physician, Bombay Hospital.

Added Dr Amit Maydeo, head of the endoscopy department at Jaslok Hospital, "Usually during the summer, the number of cases of gastroenteritis rises by 15-20 per cent."

Effects of food adulteration
' Washing soda in food like farsan can cause intestinal diseases
' There is a danger of paralysis if edible oil is adulterated with Arigimone oil, Mineral oil, etc
' Metanil yellow used for colouring pulses, turmeric powder and sweetmeats may cause cancer
' Food prepared in unhygienic conditions and consumption of stale food may cause food poisoning

Source: FDA, Maharashtra