Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has busted a major food packaging and relabelling racket in Navi Mumbai, where manufacturing and expiry dates of food products were altered to facilitate the sale of expired stock.
The operation led to the seizure of food products and expired goods valued at more than Rs 76 lakh, officials said on Tuesday.
The crackdown was carried out jointly by the Maharashtra FDA and the Navi Mumbai Police Crime Branch between August 24 and 29 at M/s Sadhna Enterprises in the Turbhe area.
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According to the FDA, the establishment was found storing, repacking and tampering with labels on food products associated with 10 prominent exporter companies based in Mumbai, New Delhi and Noida.
MANUFACTURING, EXPIRY DATES ALTERED
Investigators found that original manufacturing and expiry dates were being removed from product packaging and replaced with newly printed dates. Fresh stickers were also placed over original ingredients and nutritional information, officials said.
The process was reportedly being used to make expired food products appear fit for sale and enable their resale in the market.
The seized stock included a range of popular packaged food and beverage products, including wafers and potato chips, noodles, soup, mayonnaise packets and cans of major aerated drink brands.
The FDA said 4,942 cartons of food products worth Rs 75.21 lakh were seized during the operation. Authorities also confiscated unlabeled and expired food items valued at Rs 1.3 lakh.
Officials collected samples of several products for further examination, particularly those for which the establishment could not produce required Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licenses and purchase bills.
Following the inspection, the food license of M/s Sadhna Enterprises was immediately suspended, the FDA said.
FIR REGISTERED AGAINST PARTNERS, EXPORTERS
An FIR has been registered at Turbhe police station against the partners of the establishment and associated exporters.
The accused have been booked under various provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is underway to determine the extent of the operation and identify others who may have been involved.
The FDA said the investigation would also examine the source of the food products, the companies connected to the stock and the intended distribution network.
The department stressed that tampering with food labels and selling expired products could pose serious risks to consumers.
“The government is extremely strict regarding food quality and law enforcement in Maharashtra. Playing with the health of consumers and the general public will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” the FDA said.
It added that strict legal action would continue against those found storing or selling expired or tampered food products.
– Ends
With inputs from PTI
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
