Latest news with #FSDA
Hindustan Times
18 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Gautam Budh Nagar admin inspects sweet shops ahead of Raksha Bandhan
NOIDA: With Raksha Bandhan approaching, food safety authorities in Gautam Budh Nagar have intensified inspections across sweet shops and food manufacturing units to ensure that festival food is safe and hygienic for public consumption, officials said. Food department officials confirmed that the department will continue surprise checks to ensure compliance with food safety standards. (HT Photos) On the directives of district magistrate Medha Roopam, the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (FSDA) has launched a district-wide crackdown on adulterated and unhygienic food items. Assistant commissioner (food-II) Sarvesh Mishra said, 'Ahead of Raksha Bandhan, we have intensified food safety inspections across the district to ensure that only safe and hygienic food reaches the consumers. Samples have been sent for laboratory testing. Wherever gross violations were found, such as fungus contamination or unhygienic manufacturing conditions, we took immediate action and destroyed the unsafe products on-site.' Officials confirmed that inspection teams collected 13 food samples for laboratory testing. Also, over 450 kilograms of contaminated sweets were destroyed due to poor hygiene and visible spoilage. In a major operation, team led by food safety officers inspected sweet shops located in Sector 63, collecting samples of barfi and laddoo. At another unit in Chhajarsi, Noida, a rasgulla sample was taken and approximately 365 kg of sweet was destroyed as it was made in filthy and unsanitary conditions, officials added. Mishra said at some locations, particularly smaller production units, sweets were found being prepared in highly unsanitary environments. In one instance, over 360 kg of rasgullas had to be discarded due to visible contamination. 'Such conditions pose serious health risks, especially during festive seasons when consumption spikes', added Mishra. Meanwhile, another team conducted raids at multiple sweet shops in Jewar and Jahangirpur, collecting samples of ghewar, a festive delicacy. A third team visited a prominent sweet store in Salarpur Bhangel and in Sector 82, collecting samples of peda and rasgulla, respectively. In Sorkha, Sector 115, samples of boondi laddoo, mohan barfi, and besan roll were taken. Fungus was found in the boondi laddoo, and another sweet item was discovered in unhygienic condition, destroying 65 kgs of laddoo and 25 kgs of barfi. Food department officials confirmed that the department will continue surprise checks to ensure compliance with food safety standards. In a related crackdown earlier this week across Noida, Greater Noida, and Dadri, district food safety teams seized over 340 kgs of suspect items, including refined oils and dry fruits—key ingredients in sweet preparation—for lacking proper labelling or appearing adulterated.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Karnataka Health Department brings AYUSH medicines, testing labs under FSDA purview
After merging the Drugs Control Department with the Food Safety Authority, the State Health Department has now brought all AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy ) medicines and AYUSH testing laboratories under the purview of the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA). Announcing this at a press conference on Monday, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the move is to control the quality of medicines being prescribed under the alternative systems of medicine, especially as their consumption continues to rise among the public. Moreover, the department has also reduced the time it takes to recall substandard medicines from the market. Earlier, once a drug was flagged as 'Not of Standard Quality' (NSQ), it could take up to 30 days for the drug to be removed from pharmacies and distributors. Now that time has been cut to just two days, the Minister said. NSQ drugs Pointing out that it is a crucial decision, the Health Minister said NSQ medicines, if left on shelves, may continue to be consumed by patients, posing direct and serious health risks. In June 2025 alone, drugs worth ₹40.48 lakh that did not meet safety standards were swiftly recalled and seized across the State, he said. Giving details about the drives conducted by the FSDA in the last few months, the Minister said: 'In July, 1,433 drug samples were analysed by testing laboratories located in Bengaluru, Hubballi, and Ballari. Of these, 67 were found to be substandard, with the department filing 29 cases.' A two-day special enforcement drive was also conducted from June 24, during which 279 inspections were carried out at drug stores across the State and 231 show-cause notices were issued to offending establishments, while 15 compliance notices were served, he said. Online applications for blood centres All applications related to blood centres are now processed through the Online National Drugs Licensing System (ONDLS) Portal, with licenses issued exclusively online. In addition, an online platform has been launched to issue Recognised Medical Institution (RMI) certificates required by institutions authorised to handle essential narcotic drugs, he said. Street food samples A total of 1,557 street food eateries were inspected, and items including fruits, vegetables, water bottles, bakery products and spice powders were checked, with 406 found violating safety norms. Spot fines amounting to ₹44,500 were collected from these violators. At 186 bus stands across the State, 889 food stalls were inspected, and 206 were found in violation, the Minister said. 'Despite a ban on the use of artificial food colours in food preparation, the Empire Restaurant chain in Bengaluru has been found to be using synthetic food colours in chicken kebabs. Food Safety officials, through a State-level inspection and laboratory testing, collected six samples of chicken kebab from various branches of this restaurant, and all six samples were found to be unsafe for consumption,' Mr. Gundu Rao said. Pointing out that the restaurant is now preparing kebabs without colours, the Minister urged the public to demand better quality and report cases where they find eateries serving artificially coloured food.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Amid adulteration scare, UP govt to train youths to produce organic alternatives
Ghaziabad: Amid rising cases of adulterated food in local markets, the state govt has launched a two-day training programme in Ghaziabad under the CM's food processing village self-employment scheme. Starting from July 29, 30 youths from Muradnagar block will be trained in safe food processing. In total, 90 rural participants will be trained, with loan provisions available for setting up food enterprises. The initiative, being implemented across the state for the first time, is organised by the horticulture and food processing department to promote self-employment in rural areas while encouraging hygienic food practices. In Ghaziabad, the programme targets youths from rural blocks, with the first phase focused on Muradnagar. Each selected participant will receive training in preparing food products such as paneer, pickles, sauces, jams, juices, bakery items, and spice mixes. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida The training will also include sessions on financial planning, packaging, hygiene standards, and how to access other govt schemes like Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), which provides financial assistance up to Rs 10 lakh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Expense Of Toothbringing For The Elderly Could Blow You Off Dental Implant | Search ADS Search Now Undo "The focus is on building self-reliance in villages while promoting safe and hygienic food practices," said Deshmukh Kumar, in charge of the govt food processing centre in Ghaziabad. He added that 30 candidates were shortlisted from applications received earlier this month. To qualify, applicants had to be at least 21 years old, have passed Class 12, and submit valid ID along with proof of rural residence in Ghaziabad. As part of the scheme, each beneficiary is eligible for financial support up to Rs 1 lakh to start a small food processing enterprise. Larger units can avail of subsidies of up to 30% of the project cost. Participants will also receive free study material during the training. Officials said that beyond self-employment, the programme also addresses public health concerns stemming from adulterated food. Data from the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) shows that nearly 50% of food samples tested in Ghaziabad during the last financial year failed quality checks. Dairy products were among the most frequently adulterated.
The Hindu
26-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Chicken kebabs from popular outlet in Bengaluru declared ‘unsafe' by State food safety authority
Despite a ban on the use of artificial food colours in food preparation, a popular restaurant chain in Bengaluru has been found to be using synthetic food colours in chicken kebabs. The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), through its State-level inspection and laboratory testing, has declared chicken kebab samples from one of the several outlets of Empire Restaurant in Bengaluru 'unsafe' for consumption. Officials from FSDA said chicken kebab samples were collected from several Empire branches. The samples from the chain's outlet in Gandhinagar was specifically flagged after two kilograms of kebab samples were collected from there and tested in the State Food Laboratory at the Public Health Institute on June 26. 'Upon testing, the lab confirmed that the food item was unsafe, based on parameters prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. A notice has now been issued to the Empire Restaurant in Gandhinagar, giving them 30 days to respond,' a top official said. The restaurant has been given the option of challenging the report by placing a request for retesting the second part of the food sample at CFTRI, Mysuru, at their own cost, within the 30-day window. If no response is received within that period, legal action under the FSSAI Act will be initiated, the official said. Last year's ban In June last year, the government had banned the use of artificial colours in kebabs made with vegetables, chicken, and fish across the State and had warned those involved in the manufacturing and sale of kebabs in the State to strictly comply with the ban. The decision then followed an analysis of 39 kebab samples from various locations in the State by government-run laboratories. Tests had revealed that eight of the 39 samples were unsafe owing to the presence of artificial colouring agents. While the presence of sunset yellow colour was found in seven samples, one sample had sunset yellow and carmoisine colours, which are harmful to health. 'The use of such additives is prohibited under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products, Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, as they pose serious health risks to consumers. Hence, the use of such artificial colours has been banned in the preparation of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian kebabs,' the official order had stated. The violation of these rules can lead to imprisonment, ranging from a minimum of seven years up to life term and a fine of up to ₹10 lakh under Rule 59 of the Act, the order stated. Prior to that, in March, the State government had banned the use of artificial colours in edible items such as gobi manchurian and cotton candy. The ban was imposed after carcinogenic chemicals were found in the artificial colours used in these food items.
New Indian Express
10-07-2025
- New Indian Express
UP makes QR code stickers mandatory for eateries, steps up food safety drive ahead of Kanwar Yatra
LUCKNOW: With Kanwar Yatra all set to kick off on Friday with the advent of the holy month of Shravan, the Uttar Pradesh government intensified its food safety and cleanliness campaign along the pilgrimage route. The state government has made it mandatory for all eateries to display QR-code-enabled stickers linked to the Food Safety CONNECT App. While the state government officials claim it to be a digital food safety reform aimed at ensuring hygiene, transparency, and accountability for the estimated four crore pilgrims expected to undertake the Yatra this year, the eatery owners consider it the 'official version of the nameplate diktat'—a reference to last year's government order (GO) that had snowballed into a controversy. As per the new norms, the QR-code-based sticker—linked to the Food Safety Connect App—is now mandatory on all food establishments along the Kanwar Yatra route. Scanning the sticker reveals the owner's name, registration number, address, and menu details. According to senior state government officials, the move is not just a technological upgradation but a hygiene and transparency reform. The official sources confirmed that teams were placing stickers on all eateries—from high-end restaurants to roadside stalls. They said that citizens could also file complaints via the app on finding sub-quality food. The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has also directed shopkeepers to display rate lists and maintain high standards of cleanliness. Expired products and uncovered juices have been destroyed in several inspections, especially in Muzaffarnagar, Lucknow, Meerut, and Ayodhya. While the state government has decided to stay away from issuing any fresh directive about nameplates or religious identification ahead of this year's Kanwar Yatra, the digital sticker bearing the owner's name and registration has reminded traders of July 2024, when the UP Police issued the controversial order for shop owners on the 240-km Kanwar route to display their names and phone numbers prominently. Officials maintained that the Food Safety Connect App was part of a wider initiative to ensure food safety during monsoon and mass gatherings. To ensure smooth movement and safety of Kanwariyas along with better coordination with respective district administrations during the Kanwar Yatra, top officials from states including Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and Uttarakhand convened a high-level meeting at the Commissioner's Office in Meerut earlier this week. The inter-state coordination meeting, attended by UP Chief Secretary Manoj Singh, DGP Rajeev Krishna, and other senior officers from the other three states, finalised a detailed action plan for crowd management, law and order, and pilgrim convenience.
