Latest news with #FoodSafetyAct
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Food dept cracks down on meat shops in Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad: Food safety department has launched a crackdown on illegal slaughtering, poor hygiene and unregistered food business operators (FBOs) in Ghaziabad. This led to closure notices, seizure of equipment and penalties under the Food Safety and Standards Act on Wednesday. During an inspection at Halal Chicken Shop in Shastri Nagar, chicken slaughtering was found to be taking place despite the outlet having no registration for a slaughterhouse, assistant commissioner of food (Grade II), Ghaziabad, Dr Arvind Yadav told TOI. "The FBO had a registration for a meat shop but not for slaughtering. As a preventive measure, the slaughtering equipment was seized while he was allowed to continue the shop and sale of meat. A penalty was imposed on him as per provisions of the Food Safety Act," Dr Yadav said. In Indirapuram's Kanawani Pulia area, a meat shop, run by Guddu Qureshi, was found operating without any food registration. Legal proceedings under Section 58 of the Act were initiated and the shop was shut down immediately. Another meat shop in the area, Pappu Mutton Shop, was issued a notice for violating registration conditions. Officials said its licence may be suspended if hygiene issues are not resolved within the given timeline. At Windsor Street Market in Indirapuram, Lucknow Wale Kababi Non-Veg Restaurant was pulled up for displaying roasted meat in the open and poor cleanliness, Yadav said.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Fungus on items, stagnant water: Maharashtra FDA suspends food licence of Zepto's Dharavi outlet
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licence of the Dharavi outlet of Kiranakart Technologies Pvt Ltd, the parent company of Zepto, following an inspection on Saturday which revealed multiple violations of food safety norms at the distribution centre. The inspection was carried out by food safety officer Ram Bodke, based on directions from Minister of State for FDA Yogesh Kadam, and under the supervision of Mangesh Mane, Joint Commissioner, Food. The probe unearthed a slew of violations at the distribution centre under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the accompanying licensing regulations, the FDA claimed. Among the most serious findings included the alleged visible fungal growth on food items, stagnant and clogged water near storage areas which indicated poor sanitation, improper cold storage with temperatures not maintained as per norms, and wet, unclean floors and food products stored haphazardly, including directly on the ground, according to the regulatory authority. The FDA also claimed that expired food products were kept alongside fresh stock, without clear separation. In response, Anupamaa Balasaheb Patil, Assistant Commissioner, Food, issued an immediate suspension order under section 32(3) of the Food Safety Act and Regulation 2.1.8(4) of the Licensing and Registration Rules. The order mandates that the facility cannot resume operations until it demonstrates full compliance and receives formal clearance from the licensing authority. An official statement from Zepto on the matter is awaited. The FDA said that the action is part of its ongoing crackdown on unsafe food practices. 'Public health cannot be compromised. We are committed to strict and transparent enforcement,' said Rajesh Narvekar, Commissioner, FDA. The licence will remain suspended until the Dharavi facility clears a follow-up inspection and receives formal reinstatement approval from the FDA. The FDA is the state's principal regulatory authority dedicated to ensuring the safety, quality, and compliance of food products, medicines, and cosmetics. Operating under the Department of Medical Education and Pharmaceuticals, it is responsible for implementing and enforcing various legislations pertaining to food safety and drugs.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
A 100% no food labels sent packing: FSSAI asks food companies not to make false claims of absolute purity
New Delhi: The government has tightened scrutiny on packaged food companies, directing them to discontinue claims of 100% on food labels, packaging and promotional content. It has termed such claims as "misleading to consumers, and ambiguous and prone to misinterpretation". In a May 28 advisory, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said "the term 100% is not defined or referenced in any manner under the Food Safety Act". The term 100% is "likely to convey false sense of absolute purity or superiority potentially leading consumers to believe that competing products in the market do not comply with prescribed standards," read the advisory, a copy of which was seen by ET. Many brands currently sell products such as chocolates, tea, honey, biscuits, and protein powders, displaying claims such as "100% sugar free, with millets, oats," the advisory further said. "Such guidelines are beneficial for consumers and would help to weed out misleading claims. However, implementation is key and brands that make genuine claims should not be penalised under the 100% guideline," said a senior executive at a leading packaged snacks maker. The food regulator's directive is aimed at curbing misleading marketing practices and to ensure consumers get accurate information about food products. The FSSAI said its regulations "strictly prohibit" any ads or claims that undermine other companies or influence consumer perception in a misleading manner. It further said as per regulations, claims should be "truthful, unambiguous and meaningful not misleading and help consumers to comprehend the information provided." The food regulator had issued a notification mid-2024 directing companies to remove claims such as "100% fruit juices" from labels and ads. It also directed companies to exhaust all pre-printed packaging material, which claim 100% fruit juices in packaged juices, by December-end. One of the impacted brands, Dabur 's Real juice brand, and FSSAI are currently embroiled in a legal dispute on the issue. Last month, FSSAI told the Delhi High Court that Dabur's '100% fruit juice' claim on its packaging is not permitted under existing food safety regulations, terming it "misleading to consumers". The regulator had responded to Dabur challenging the directive. This February, FSSAI made certain amendments to its labelling regulations via a draft notification, with the aim of enabling consumers to make informed decisions about food products, especially those containing sugar, salt and saturated fat. Last year, the regulator had proposed that total salt, sugar, and saturated fat on labels should be displayed in bold letters and larger font sizes on packaged food products.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
A 100% no food labels sent packing: FSSAI asks food companies not to make false claims of absolute purity
The FSSAI has intensified its scrutiny of packaged food companies, instructing them to discontinue "100%" claims on labels and promotional content, deeming them misleading. This directive aims to curb deceptive marketing practices and ensure consumers receive accurate information about food products. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: The government has tightened scrutiny on packaged food companies, directing them to discontinue claims of 100% on food labels, packaging and promotional content. It has termed such claims as "misleading to consumers, and ambiguous and prone to misinterpretation".In a May 28 advisory, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said "the term 100% is not defined or referenced in any manner under the Food Safety Act".The term 100% is "likely to convey false sense of absolute purity or superiority potentially leading consumers to believe that competing products in the market do not comply with prescribed standards," read the advisory, a copy of which was seen by brands currently sell products such as chocolates, tea, honey, biscuits, and protein powders, displaying claims such as "100% sugar free, with millets, oats," the advisory further said."Such guidelines are beneficial for consumers and would help to weed out misleading claims. However, implementation is key and brands that make genuine claims should not be penalised under the 100% guideline," said a senior executive at a leading packaged snacks food regulator's directive is aimed at curbing misleading marketing practices and to ensure consumers get accurate information about food products. The FSSAI said its regulations "strictly prohibit" any ads or claims that undermine other companies or influence consumer perception in a misleading manner. It further said as per regulations, claims should be "truthful, unambiguous and meaningful not misleading and help consumers to comprehend the information provided."The food regulator had issued a notification mid-2024 directing companies to remove claims such as "100% fruit juices" from labels and ads. It also directed companies to exhaust all pre-printed packaging material, which claim 100% fruit juices in packaged juices, by of the impacted brands, Dabur 's Real juice brand, and FSSAI are currently embroiled in a legal dispute on the issue. Last month, FSSAI told the Delhi High Court that Dabur's '100% fruit juice' claim on its packaging is not permitted under existing food safety regulations, terming it "misleading to consumers". The regulator had responded to Dabur challenging the February, FSSAI made certain amendments to its labelling regulations via a draft notification, with the aim of enabling consumers to make informed decisions about food products, especially those containing sugar, salt and saturated fat. Last year, the regulator had proposed that total salt, sugar, and saturated fat on labels should be displayed in bold letters and larger font sizes on packaged food products.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Lizard tail in ice cream cone? Ahmedabad woman's chilling discovery sparks food safety alarm
What started as a simple ice cream treat turned into a nightmare for a woman in Ahmedabad after she discovered a lizard's tail inside her cone. The shocking incident took place at a local ice cream shop and has raised serious concerns about food safety. Authorities acted swiftly by sealing the outlet and launching an investigation. The ice cream brand involved is now facing a penalty, as food safety officials look into possible lapses in hygiene and quality control. The discovery has left many customers worried, raising new concerns about the safety of packaged and ready-to-eat foods. Officials have promised strict action and more checks in the coming days to stop such incidents from happening again. Watch the video here: A casual snack turns into a health scare The disturbing incident took place in Ahmedabad's Maninagar area, where a woman had purchased four ice cream cones from a shop named Mahalaxmi Corner . After eating a portion of her cone, she was horrified to find what looked like a lizard's tail inside the dessert. The shock quickly turned into a health scare, as she began experiencing stomach pain and vomiting soon after. She had to be rushed to medical treatment. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo According to a report presented by NDTV, in a video recounting the event, the woman said, 'We had bought four cones. We found this in one of the cones (pointing at the lizard's tail). I have been vomiting constantly. Thankfully, my children did not eat this. If something happens, we will file a case against the company. Please check the products first before consuming anything.' Shop sealed, no food license found After the woman's complaint, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) launched an inspection of the shop. Officials found that Mahalaxmi Corner was operating without a valid food safety license. As a result, the outlet was sealed on the spot for violating health and safety regulations. As quoted by NDTV, Dr. Bhavin Joshi from the AMC's food safety department said, 'We received a complaint regarding a lizard found in an ice cream cone in the Maninagar area through the media. We immediately contacted the woman and found out she had bought Havmor's ice cream cones from a shop named Mahalaxmi Corner. Our team inspected the shop and found it did not have a license under the Food Safety Act. We immediately took action and sealed the shop. ' Ice cream batch recalled, Rs 50,000 fine imposed During the investigation, officials traced the contaminated ice cream to Havmor Ice Cream Pvt Ltd's manufacturing unit at Naroda GIDC Phase 1. Samples from the same batch have been sent for laboratory testing, and the company has been directed to recall all affected products from the market. In addition, Havmor has been fined ₹50,000 for lapses in maintaining food safety standards. Havmor responds to the incident Havmor, in its statement, expressed regret over the incident and assured the public that they are investigating the matter thoroughly. As quoted by NDTV, the company said, 'The incident has been brought to our attention and we are currently investigating the matter. We are in touch with the concerned consumer and are committed to thoroughly investigating the issue at hand. At Havmor, we take utmost care and are committed to maintaining the highest global standards for product quality and safety. ' Food safety standards under scrutiny The incident has raised serious concerns about food safety in India, especially with packaged and mass-produced items. It has put pressure on authorities to improve checks and prevent such lapses. Consumers are being advised to stay alert, check food before eating, and report any issues. The focus now is on accountability and stronger safety rules nationwide. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
