Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Karnataka’s food safety authorities have launched a statewide crackdown on sweet manufacturing units, seizing hundreds of kilograms of expired and mislabelled products, finding unhygienic conditions and temporarily shutting six units over food safety violations.
The special inspection drive was conducted across Bengaluru and several districts on Monday following directions from Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader. Officials inspected sweet manufacturing and food business units in Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, the Greater Bengaluru Authority, Mysuru, Dakshina Kannada, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and Hubballi-Dharwad.
advertisement
The drive was carried out under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Rules, 2011.
During the inspections, officials collected samples of sweets and other food products, including cooking and fresh oil, pulses, gram or channa, jalebi, khova, tea powder, Mysore Pak, Jahangir and mixture. The samples have been sent to government food laboratories to assess whether they meet prescribed food safety standards.
EXPIRED FOOD, MISLABELLING FOUND
Officials found several violations across the inspected units, including expired food products being stored, incorrect or improper labelling, unhygienic manufacturing and storage conditions, and the use or storage of unauthorised artificial colours.
Several businesses were also found not displaying mandatory information on food packages.
This included the manufacturer’s name and address, batch number, date of manufacture, Use By date, maximum retail price and FSSAI licence or registration number.
MAJOR SEIZURES ACROSS KARNATAKA
At Asha Sweets in Yeshwanthpur, officials seized around 49 kg of tea powder, 20 kg of Khova or Kalakand and 2.5 kg of pistachios suspected to be in violation of food safety norms. Samples were collected for further legal action.
At Bikaner Sweets on Magadi Road, inspectors found unhygienic conditions and serious labelling deficiencies. The manufacturing unit was temporarily closed and legal proceedings were initiated.
At Lal Sweets Pvt Ltd, around 60 kg of food products, including banana chips and chakli masala, were found without mandatory declarations such as manufacturer details and the FSSAI licence number. The products were seized.
Officials also reported fly infestation and unhygienic conditions at the unit, raising concerns over possible food contamination. A notice was subsequently issued.
In Kalaburagi, Maharaja Sweets was temporarily closed after officials found unhygienic conditions and labelling deficiencies.
In Mangaluru, Swagath Sweets was found operating without the required food licence. Officials also reported unhygienic conditions and labelling violations. The unit was temporarily closed and legal action was initiated.
EXPIRED CURD, MISLABELLED CHIKKI SEIZED
At Mithai Factory in Bengaluru, officials seized 14 packets of incorrectly labelled chikki and 5 litres of expired Nandini curd.
They also found incorrectly labelled chocolate decoration materials, comprising 13 large packets and six small packets.
In Belagavi, around 10 kg of expired chocolate flavour was seized from A1 Purohit, while 5 kg of Rasgulla was disposed of according to the prescribed procedure.
At Word of Mysore Pack in Mysuru, officials seized incorrectly labelled products including 367 kg of ready-to-eat savouries, 4 kg of cocoa powder, 4.5 kg of cracked cocoa beans and 6 kg of khova.
The estimated value of the seized products was 1.56 lakh.
400 KG KHOVA SEIZED IN BENGALURU
One of the biggest seizures was reported at Balaji Milk Khova in Bengaluru, where officials found products without mandatory declarations.
The missing information included the date of manufacture, Use By date, batch number, MRP and FSSAI logo, licence or registration number.
Officials seized 150 kg of Kalakand Khova and 250 kg of Khova, taking the total quantity seized to 400 kg.
The seized products were estimated to be worth 77,500.
The unit was also found operating in unhygienic conditions and was issued a notice.
At Sandesh Sweets in Bengaluru, four food samples suspected to be non-conforming were collected and sent to a government laboratory for analysis.
MORE UNITS FACE ACTION
Notices and legal proceedings were also initiated against several other food businesses over reported hygiene and food safety violations.
These include Triveni Bakery and Mita Bharat in Hubballi, Kalyani Sweets and A1 Kunda in Belagavi, India Sweets and Venkateshwara Sweets in Bengaluru, and Popular Bakery Pvt Ltd in Puttur.
The action comes as Karnataka authorities step up scrutiny of food manufacturing and other food business establishments across the state.
MORE INSPECTIONS TO FOLLOW
The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department said legal action would be taken against food business operators found violating food safety laws and regulations.
The department said similar special inspection drives would continue across Karnataka, covering food manufacturing units as well as other food business establishments.
It also made clear that there would be no leniency towards violations involving expired products, misbranding, inadequate labelling, unhygienic manufacturing conditions and other practices that could pose a risk to public health.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
