KATHMANDU, May 16: Rising number of complaints against firms producing water and dairy products has raised question on the quality of these products sold in the market.
Of the 102 complaints received by the Department of Food Technology and Control (DoFTQC) in the second quarter of the current fiscal year, 52 are against producers of drinking water and dairy products, says Madan Chapagain, a joint spokesperson for the DoFTQC.
A report of the DoFTQC for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2016/17 shows that 17 such complaints were registered in Kathmandu. Similarly, five complaints were registered at the department's Biratnagar regional office, five at Bhairahawa regional office and three in Dhangadi regional office.
Likewise, altogether 21 complaints were filed at the Hetauda regional office in the second quarter of the current fiscal year. No complaint was registered at the department's Jumla regional office.
Chapagain said that drinking water and dairy products are very sensitive and can be easily contaminated if not stored properly“ "We will study the complaints and take needful action against firms and entrepreneurs found violating quality standards and selling contaminated or substandard food stuffs. After completing our study, the complaints will be forwarded to respective District Administration Office (DAO) for further actio”," he added.
The number of complaint against quality of other food products is very low. “
"Many consumers are not filing complaints despite finding substandard products in the market. Expired food products are sold openly in the markets in rural are”s," Chapagain said, addin“: "There is an urgent need to conduct awareness programs in rural areas to make people aware of the hazards of consuming substandard and expired produc”s." He also added that such awareness programs would also discourage adulteration of food products by unscrupulous entrepreneurs.
According to Chapagain, the department has been conducting market monitoring four times a week in collaboration with respective District Administration Offices (DAOs) and consumer rights groups.
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