Bhubaneswar, August 28: Food safety enforcement drive has been intensified across the State. A total of 3,605 kg of obnoxious sweet and stale food has been seized and destroyed in the last three days. The joint raid teams have collected 475 suspected samples for further chemical analysis. An amount of Rs 2,84,500.00 have been collected as penalty from the shop owners during this period.

Raids were being conducted in different food shops across 30 districts and six corportaions - Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Kataka Municipal Corporation, Rourkela Municipal Corporation, Puri Municipal Corporation, Sambalpur Municipal Corporation and Berhampur Municipal Corporation.

According to an official release, on August 25, 26 and 27, a total of 3,605 kgs of obnoxious sweet and stale food have been seized and destroyed.

Food Safety Designated Officer (State Headquarters), Dr Pratikshya Mohapatra said that further legal action would be taken after getting the test analysis report, and the replies of the food establishments to whom notices were served.

Available data show, joint raids are being conducted in close coordination among departments of Home, Housing and Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies. As many as 61 food safety teams have been constituted for the purpose. The food establishments, and vendors have been warned about more strenuous action in coming days in interest of public health.

Odisha State Food Safety Commissioner Dr Poma Tudu directed officials to further intensify the raids in all urban bodies, growth centres and rural markets.