UP Food Safety: In line with the commitment of the Yogi government to provide pure and safe food items to the general public during festivals, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has intensified the state-wide inspection campaign. Under the ‘Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai’ campaign, 69 teams of the department conducted intensive inspection of sweets and other food manufacturing establishments in 6 metropolitan cities (Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Ayodhya and Prayagraj).
During this period, serious neglect of hygiene standards came to light in many establishments. At some places, ready-made sweets were found lying directly on the dirty floor, while at other places, cockroaches, flies, rat filth and spider webs were found at construction sites. Cases of use of banned chemicals and running of food business without license were also reported in some establishments. The department closed the business of nine food establishments due to serious irregularities.
537 kg food items were destroyed
Under the campaign, a total of 116 food establishments were inspected and 149 food samples were collected. 96 correction notices were issued when irregularities were found. During the operation, 655 kg of food items were seized, whose estimated value is Rs 4,07,176, while 537 kg of food items were destroyed, whose estimated value is Rs 1,98,230.
Trays of sweets found kept on the floor in Kanpur, dirt at the construction site
Excessive dirt and foul smell was found at the construction site of New Tiwari Sweets in Kanpur city. Food items were also being stored in unhygienic conditions. Trays of prepared sweets were found lying directly on the floor. Whereas, spider webs and soot were found in the premises of Lala Dayaram Sweets. Sweets were being manufactured in the factory without proper cleanliness. The drainage system was also found clogged, due to which there was a possibility of contamination of food items from foreign elements. Here 12 teams inspected 19 out of 20 units, took 26 samples and issued 16 improvement notices.
Sweet factory was operating without license in Gorakhpur
Excessive filth was found in the factory of Kamdhenu Sweets located in Dharamshala market of Gorakhpur. The walls of the construction site were broken and heaps of garbage with spider webs were found in the premises. During investigation, the establishment was also found to not have a food business license. In Gorakhpur, 15 teams inspected 23 out of 27 units. During this period, 17 samples were taken and 20 improvement notices were issued.
Case of use of banned chemicals came to light in Meerut
Inspection of Meerut-based Samrat Sweets revealed use of non-food grade sodium bicarbonate along with banned saccharin, caustic soda and colour. Apart from this, the drainage system of the establishment was found to be poor and proper arrangements were also not found for pest control.
Raw material and finished sweets found on dirty floor in Ghaziabad
Raw material was found kept directly on the dirty floor in Tirupati Foods located in the industrial area of Ghaziabad. Cockroaches and insects were found at the storage site of Agarwal Foods, Sahibabad. The walls of the construction site were also broken and cement was falling from them. Prepared food items were also found kept directly on the floor. At the same time, in Shagun Sweets located in Nehru Nagar, filth, broken floor, disorganized raw material and poor drainage system were found in the entire premises. In Ghaziabad, 18 teams inspected 25 units, took 49 samples and issued 20 improvement notices. The business of three establishments here was closed.
Sweets were being stored amidst dirt and contaminated water in Ayodhya.
Sweets were being manufactured in extremely unhygienic conditions at Ram Naresh Sweets located at Belsar Square in Ayodhya. Flies were present in the premises and the storage conditions of food items were also found to be poor. Excessive dirt, insects and rat feces were also found in Sanjay Yadav Sweet House located in Mohammadpur. Dirty water was accumulated on the floor and food items were kept at the same place. Dirty water coming out of the deep freezer was also present in the premises. Sweets were being stored in this deep freezer with dirty water. The foul smell was spread throughout the premises. In Ayodhya, eight teams inspected 18 units, took 14 samples and issued 13 improvement notices.
Inspection of 18 food units in Prayagraj
Eight teams of FSDA inspected 18 food business units in Prayagraj. During this period, 14 food samples were collected and 15 correction notices were issued on irregularities. The license of any unit was not suspended here.
Strict action continues on ignoring food safety standards
Through the ‘Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai’ campaign, FSDA is ensuring the quality of food items as well as compliance with hygiene and safety standards in the entire process of their manufacturing, storage and sale. Departmental teams are checking cleanliness of construction sites, safe storage of raw materials, keeping prepared foods off floors, pest control, drainage and use of approved food grade substances.
If deficiencies are found by the department, improvement notices are being issued to businessmen and instructions are being given to ensure arrangements as per the prescribed standards. At the same time, strict enforcement action like closure of business is also being taken against establishments found to have serious irregularities and ignoring food safety standards. This campaign will continue further to provide safe and quality food items to the common people during festivals.