Surat: Food safety officials from the health department of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) conducted inspections at stalls selling ponk and ponk-based products across the city on Tuesday. During the drive, 12 samples of ponk vada and fried sev were collected from 10 locations and sent for testing to the SMC’s Public Health Laboratory.With the onset of the winter season, the sale of seasonal snacks such as ponk, ponk vada, and fried sev has picked up across the city, prompting the health department to intensify checks to ensure food safety and authenticity.Officials said further action will be initiated under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and its rules and regulations once the laboratory test reports are received.The inspection drive follows complaints from ponk lovers who have raised concerns over the authenticity of ponk used in fried products, as the supply of original ponk is limited and not easily available in the market. It is alleged that several fried items being sold in the name of ponk do not contain the rare variety of genuine ponk.Currently, the price of raw ponk is around Rs 600 per kg, while fried ponk products such as ponk vada are being sold at Rs 400 to Rs 500 per kg, leading to suspicions that these products contain only a minimal quantity of ponk.In addition, food establishments were instructed to strictly comply with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, by ensuring that food is prepared and served under hygienic conditions using fresh, pure, and wholesome ingredients. Emphasis was laid on maintaining cleanliness at the premises, and workers were directed to use protective gear such as gloves, caps, and aprons while handling food. The department warned that strict enforcement of these guidelines would be ensured.I
