Check food adulteration during festive season: Centre

Ahead of the festive season, the Centre has shot off a missive to state governments to curb sale of adulterated food and step up measures to prevent duping of customers buying jewelry.

In a letter to all chief ministers, Consumer Affairs Minister Ramvilas Paswan urged them to issue directions to officials of relevant departments to remain alert to prevent adulteration of food products and enable customers to buy good quality jewelry.

Paswan noted in the letter that besides food items, the festive season witnesses buying of jewelry on a large scale in which many consumers are duped.

“The government has a scheme, under the aegis of the Bureau of Indian Standards, of gold hallmarking to ensure that the consumers get good quality jewelry,” the minister said.

Paswan acknowledged the cooperation of the state governments in helping the Centre keep the prices of essential commodities under check. “The common consumer is feeling relieved on account of this during the ongoing festival season,” he said.