Summary:
Earlier, the health department had to send food samples to Bengaluru for determination of heavy metals and pesticides in food samples. JAIPUR: Now, one can check the level of pesticides in fruits and vegetables and heavy metals in other packed food items before consuming it. Now, it will help in testing residues of banned pesticides such as Chlordane, Carbofuron, Captafol and DDT.The central lab situated in Jaipur is now equipped with high-tech machines. The state government has upgraded its central laboratory for food products, where it will now be able to test food items for determination of heavy metals and pesticides in food items.At the upgraded central lab, the health department will now be able to test food items like fruits and vegetables for testing the levels of heavy metals and pesticides present in it.Earlier, there was no such facility for testing fruits and vegetables. So, a consumer can go to the central lab for testing fruits and vegetables too," the official said.The officials said that in states like Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, there are no such machines, which are now available in Jaipur for determination of heavy metals and pesticides..