Health department officials swung into action to test food sample across the capital on Friday, the day Jharkhand High Court directed the state government to furnish a detailed plan on how it intends to curb adulteration of food in the capital and other districts in the state.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice H.C. Mishra and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh were hearing a PIL on food adulteration and observed that there seems to be a nexus between government officials and the offenders.

Vegetables and fruits are being exposed to harmful artificial colours and there is no check on the quality of food materials available in the market, the court observed. The government said 24 food safety officers have been appointed and 53 more posts are due to be sanctioned. Work has already commenced in this regard, the government pleader said.

The Telegraph had reported on Thursday how the food testing drive had become sluggish across the state.

Health officials on Friday tested 28 samples across capital and found eight of them substandard.

“We have a mobile testing vehicle with us,” district food safety officer Dr S.S. Kullu said. “We visited 19 to 20 shops since 11am and collected at least 28 samples. We found minor adulteration in eight samples. We found maida in chhena and starch in paneer. We warned the seller.

“We collected six samples from some of the shops at Harmu, Argora and Kishoreganj for testing in the laboratory at Namkum,” he added. “Action will be taken once report comes.

“We asked the restaurant and dhaba owners to have water safety report. We also asked them use airtight gloves. Direction was also given for regular health check-up of persons preparing and serving food,” he said.