Kolkata Markets Face Food Safety Crackdown

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) recently concluded a comprehensive, week-long food safety inspection across key city markets. The drive focused on Gariahat's fish market, Posta's spice market, and Chhana Patti in Bowbazar, vital supply points for the city's residents and restaurants. At Gariahat, authorities confiscated large quantities of frozen fish and meat that lacked essential refrigerator storage date tags, a measure aimed at preventing the sale of potentially unsafe products.

In Posta market, inspectors collected samples and performed on-site analyses of various products. Any items missing manufacture and expiry dates or batch numbers were discarded. Notably, an expired stock of meetha attar, an ingredient used in biryani, was found and disposed of. Traders highlighted concerns about the prevalence of adulterated spices sold at lower prices, suggesting that price discrepancies often indicate fraudulent practices.

The inspection extended to Chhana Patti to assess the quality of paneer, or Indian cottage cheese. Traders are reportedly known to remove the spoiled outer layers from old paneer stock to continue selling it. Samples were gathered for laboratory testing to verify the moisture content, milk fat, and overall quality, ensuring that consumers receive safe and unadulterated products.