Srinagar, Apr 23: The next time you buy packed snacks do check the labeling properly for it could be tampered. Reasons: In a seizure of food items, which has set the alarm bells ringing, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation Monday seized a truckload of packed snacks worth around Rs five lakhs during a raid at a house in Natipora area in the City.
 The packed lot had tampered labels meaning their date of manufacture, expiry and other details had been faked to make the unfit lot presentable for sale.
 An official handout said: “On the tip off a team of Food Safety Officers of the SMC raided a house of Abdul Qayoom who is a food distributor.”
 “Expired snacks including chips, wafers and biscuits were recovered,” the handout added.
 “The offender has been tampering the packaging label by erasing the actual expiry date and replacing it with the fresh one for the sale. Large cans of thinner/eraser were found near the tampered food items,” it added.
 Sources said the accused had tried to grease the palms of the SMC sleuths, who declined to make any “criminal deal”.
 “He even tried to convey that the thinner being used for the erasing of the labels was nothing but kerosene oil meant for cooking,” said a lower rung official requesting not to be named.
 When contacted the SMC Commissioner Dr GN Qasba said the seizure was a result of routine work. “This is the routine work my team is doing and I am happy that they are doing well,” he added.
 He, however, assured that there would be no compromise with the safety of food items being sold in the City.
 “This drive will continue 2X7 and offenders will be strictly dealt with,” he assured.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST