The Times of India 02.11.2009
AMC is setting up a Rs 125 crore sophisticated health lab
AHMEDABAD: Eating at a roadside eatery could take you to a doctor. There is an alarming amount of adulteration in that lip-smacking dish that you gorge on.
The adulterated ingredients range from chemicals such as ammonia to heavy metals like lead and arsenic. Poor quality of snacks and food products sold at restaurants and sweet shops in the city are hazardous to health too. What's worse, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) isn't equipped enough to crack down on food adulteration.
But this is set to change soon. AMC is coming up with a state-of-the-art public health laboratory in Navrangpura to keep a close check on the standard of food items sold in the city. The project will cost Rs 1.25 crore. Deputy municipal commissioner, AMC and in charge of health, IK patel said, "The lab will carry out detailed testing for food additives, pesticides, heavy metal contamination and microbiological presence harmful to human body."
"In the upcoming AMC budget, funds will be allocated for the setting up of this modern public health laboratory," added Patel.
The laboratory is also a part of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA) enacted by Parliament in August 2006. The Act requires setting up ultra modern centres for food testing across the country.
Chairman of AMC health committee Praful Raval said, "It will be a public health laboratory with advanced technologies for food testing, focusing on infrastructure strengthening and training of personnel to upgrade their existing skills. The building will have a section dedicated to food testing."
There are 72 food laboratories across the country set up by different state governments. Besides, four Central Food Laboratories have been established by the Central government.
AMC also hopes to get a grant from Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Central government, under a capacity building project for food safety and quality control of drugs.
The new AMC laboratory will be developed as per the requirement of National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
NABL has been authorized by the Central government as the sole accreditation body for testing and calibration laboratories in the country.
