SHILLONG: Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek launched the Food Safety on Wheels, a Mobile Food Testing Laboratory, at Health Complex in Laitumkhrah on Friday.
The vehicle that costs around Rs 37 lakh is funded by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The ministry will also bear the maintenance cost of Rs 5 lakh per year during the scheme.
Speaking on the occasion, Hek said Food Safety on Wheels is a multi-functional mobile laboratory equipped with basic infrastructure for spot testing of food items for detection of adulteration in various food products, which can be harmful, therefore benefitting the consumers.
The mobile food testing laboratory, under the Commissionerate of Food Safety, will also help in reaching out to street food vending, catering, retail and distribution, storage and transport, manufacturing, bakery, sellers of meat, fish, etc, milk and milk products in the unorganised food business sectors.
Food Safety on Wheels will also act as a platform for conducting awareness programmes and imparting training for consumers, food business operators, school children, besides transporting of food samples from remote areas to the Food Testing Laboratories.
Among the dignitaries present in the function include PW Ingty, additional chief secretary, Health and Family Welfare, and Pravin Bakshi, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, among others.
