Patna: With the festive season approaching, the Bihar Health Department has intensified its food safety surveillance and enforcement drive across the state. The campaign focuses on preventing adulteration, checking hygiene standards and ensuring that people have access to safe and quality food.
Surprise inspections are being carried out at food establishments, while spoiled, contaminated and expired food products are being removed and destroyed. Samples of suspected food items are also being sent to laboratories for scientific testing.
The department has also introduced stronger digital monitoring of food safety action through the FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) portal, with officials directed to upload inspection and enforcement reports promptly.
417 Food Samples Collected Across Categories
Bihar Health Secretary-cum-Food Safety Commissioner Kumar Ravi said the special campaign, launched during the last week of August, has so far resulted in the collection of 417 food samples.
The samples cover several commonly consumed food categories:
- 149 samples of milk and dairy products
- 13 samples of edible oil
- 56 samples of spices and sauces
- 88 samples of sweets
- 18 samples of street food
- 33 samples of beverages
- 60 samples of grains and pulses
All the collected samples have been sent to food laboratories for scientific examination.
The broad range of samples reflects the department’s focus on products that are likely to see increased demand during the festive season, particularly milk products, sweets, edible oil and ready-to-eat food.
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Expired Sweets and Spoiled Food Destroyed
The enforcement campaign has also led to action against spoiled and expired food products at different locations.
During inspections, spoiled peda, barfi, laddoo and cakes were identified and destroyed. In Patna, officials also disposed of leftover cooking oil found during a night inspection.
Food establishments have been instructed to maintain better hygiene and storage practices. Officials have directed them to keep food and non-food materials separately, clean old food utensils properly and maintain cleanliness around taps and water sources.
These measures are particularly important during the festive season, when demand for sweets, dairy products and prepared food rises sharply.
Sweets, Milk, Oil and Spices Under Special Watch
The department is increasing surveillance of milk and dairy products, sweets, edible oil, spices, beverages and ready-to-eat food items ahead of upcoming festivals.
Inspections will cover both food quality and hygiene conditions at establishments. Action will be taken under applicable rules against adulterated, contaminated, expired and substandard food products.
The campaign is aimed not only at identifying unsafe food but also at improving everyday hygiene and food-handling practices among food businesses.
FIFO and FEFO Rules Emphasised
Food business operators have been instructed to follow FIFO (First In, First Out) and FEFO (First Expiry, First Out) systems while storing and selling food products.
Under these systems, older stock or products approaching expiry are prioritised for use or sale, reducing the chances of expired items remaining in storage.
The department has also made it mandatory for food establishments to prominently display their FSSAI licence or registration.
Regular cleaning of kitchens and food premises, personal hygiene and separate storage of food and non-food items have also been emphasised. Food handlers have been directed to use gloves and hair nets while preparing food.
Restrictions on Reused Oil and Open Spices
The Health Department has issued strict instructions against preparing food using repeatedly used cooking oil or old syrup and juice.
Food establishments have also been directed not to sell spices in the open.
Businesses operating without the required food safety licence or registration have been instructed to obtain the necessary approval in accordance with the rules.
The focus on cooking oil, spices and food storage is intended to address common food safety risks while ensuring that businesses follow basic hygiene and compliance requirements.
Food Safety Officers Told to Step Up Inspections
Health Secretary-cum-Food Safety Commissioner Kumar Ravi has directed food safety officers across Bihar to maintain regular inspections and ensure effective enforcement.
Officials have been asked to focus on:
- Regular inspection of food establishments
- Collection and laboratory testing of food samples
- Monitoring of hygiene and sanitation standards
- Action against violations of food safety regulations
Ravi said the food safety inspection and enforcement process should be data-driven, transparent and accountable.
He also directed officials to ensure that reports of every action are submitted within the prescribed timeline so that the department can monitor the campaign effectively.
FoSCoS to Digitally Track Food Safety Action
A major part of the campaign is the use of the FoSCoS portal to strengthen digital monitoring.
Officials have been directed to immediately upload reports related to inspection and enforcement activities on the portal.
FoSCoS will be used to digitally monitor different stages of the food safety process, including inspections, sample collection, scientific testing and enforcement action.
The department expects this data-based approach to improve transparency and accountability while allowing authorities to track the progress of food safety action more effectively.
No Compromise on Food Quality
The Bihar Health Department has made it clear that food quality and safety will remain a priority during the festive season. The intensified inspections are aimed at ensuring that increased demand for sweets, dairy products, edible oil and other food items does not lead to compromises in quality or hygiene.
With 417 samples already collected, expired and spoiled food being destroyed, and enforcement activity moving to a digitally monitored system through FoSCoS, the state is combining on-ground inspections with technology-based oversight.
The campaign could also encourage food businesses to improve storage, hygiene and compliance practices. For consumers, stronger checks during the festive season are expected to provide an added layer of protection against adulterated, contaminated and expired food products.
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