Sale of jelly candies in syringe-shaped packages has become a concern for parents who felt that such eatables are putting children at risk of developing an attitude towards drug use.
The first alarm was raised in Shillong recently by a concern citizen wherein police immediately acted and seized 19 jars of the jam-like candies from Ïewduh.
Though the government is still yet to act on the sale officially, the Education Cell of the Khasi Students Union (KSU) in South West Khasi Hills district has written to the Deputy Commissioner to ban the product in the district, which is afoot in its fight against drugs.
The union said the product is mostly bought by school going children and ironically it does not have certification mark mandatory on all processed fruit products under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Pointing out that the packaging itself has raised doubts, the KSU said it is apprehensive if its consumption is even safe for children.
The union has urged the DC to monitor all sales of candies in the district to ensure that they do not pose a threat to children.