The District Administration is contemplating strict action including imprisonment against people indulging in food adulteration.

According to sources, the government is also planning to make food adulteration a non- bailable offence. In the recent past the administration had conducted surprise checks on many shops and had confiscated adulterated edible items like milk, ghee, sweets, oil etc.

Substances like detergent powder, urea, shampoo and caustic soda were found in the seized items. Many shops have been sealed and fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh were imposed on many offenders.

The food Inspectors also found that most of the lemon and other juices and food sold in the open by hawkers are not only adulterated but also contaminated. In most cases people are unable to detect the adulteration very easily and emboldened by this fact the illegal and life threatening business has been flourishing in the district.

Talking to the media persons District Collector Anurag Chaudhary said that the consequences of food adulteration are severe and that the administration is fully committed to stop this malpractice. He added that so far 221 samples have been sent to the Bhopal lab and that results of a few have been received.

The samples are those of milk, ghee, spices, oil, sweets and paneer.  The collector further said that as soon as the results arrive, strict action including imprisonment will be initiated against the offenders.

The administration is also targeting the small and medium level restaurants that are running without the food license.