After receiving complaints about foreign particles in food products, the Punjab State Co-op Supply & Marketing Federation Ltd (Markfed) has taken a decision to change the packaging of food products that they provide to beneficiaries under the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) programme. This step comes after they received several complaints about small stones being found in khichdi and dalia served under the ICDS programme.
Punjab Markfed Decides To Improve Food Packaging
Recently, several videos of small stones in food packets distributed by Anganwadi centres had taken the Internet by storm and the Punjab Markfed received several complaints about it. Seeing this, they have decided to change the packaging of food material being supplied under the ICDS programme. They have now decided to pack food in air-tight bags and supply them in cardboard cartons.
According to Markfed, this will also be helpful for the Anganwadi centres. They believe it will help the centres store and protect the raw food. They mentioned that Anganwadi centres have trouble storing the rations due to a lack of storage rooms. Also, this issue becomes worse in monsoons due to the weather conditions.
As per The Indian Express, under the ICDS programme, supplementary nutrition is provided to beneficiaries by Punjab Markfed. They provide raw rations to them for the kids. They recently received complaints about small stones being found in the khichdi served at one of the centres. Seeing this, Markfed decided to improve their packaging, including that of sweet and salty dalia and millet khichdi.
Also Read: Not Desi Ghee, Panjiri Made With Refined Oil Sold In Anganwadis In Punjab
Denies Allegation Of Foreign Materials Being Found In Food
Punjab Markfed has also denied all allegations about sub-standard food and panjiri being served at Anganwadis in Punjab. While talking to The Indian Express, an official said that some packets of panjiri, dalia and khichdi were damaged during transportation. To avoid any such issues in the future, the government agency has decided to stick to air-tight packaging.
In a letter addressed to the Women and Child Welfare Department, Punjab Markfed clarified that they ensure regular quality checks of the food. They mentioned that samples were collected from each batch and each item is tested in government labs. They went on to mention that over 250 samples have been taken for sampling to date and none of them have failed.
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