Itanagar, July 7:  The Itanagar district administration today held its District Level Steering Committee Meeting on food safety and deliberated on the need for urgent regulation of the food supply chain and counter fake news about "plastic" eggs and rice viral on social media.
Briefing about various laws relating to food safety, Designated Officer (Food Safety) Directorate of Health Services, Lokam Mangha stressed that the business community should ensure that safe and unadulterated food is sold in the market for consumption of general public. 
Major menaces related to food were also highlighted like presence of formalin in fish, carbide in fruits, use of newspaper for wrapping and serving food.
The administration also sought the help and cooperation of Market Welfare Committees for dealing with the menace of rampant use of carbide in fruits by vendors.
"Changes need to be incorporated like avoiding newspaper wrapping which has presence of lead and which is again hazardous for human health," Mangha said.
He stressed on the need to carry out awareness regarding the harmful effects of chemicals in foods.
Clarifying about the viral news about plastic eggs/ rice, the food safety officer said that FSSAI has released a document countering the claim of manufacturing of plastic egg as myth. He said that if the chicken is fed excessive amount of castor seeds, then the egg tends to become like plastic.
Kamdam Sikom SDPO also said that fake news of plastic eggs need to be clarified in public and that his force is always ready to extend help during raids and checking of food quality.
Joram Lotu from Itanagar Municipal Corporation said that obtaining of food licence by the applicants of grocery shops  and hotels, restaurants and other food outlets/ eateries should be made mandatory.
EAC Naharlagun Likha Radh suggested the Food Safety Officers to sensitise the public regarding the fake news of plastic eggs/ rice in the market by conducting awareness through press briefing, print media or hoardings/ posters etc.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
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