Latest news with #FoodSafetyandStandardsRegulations
Time of India
10-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Chocolates among 20% of food samples found substandard: Govt
Parliament monsoon session NEW DELHI: Nearly 20% of food samples, including chocolates, were found to be non-conforming (to the desired standards) in surveys carried out by the food regulator in 2024-25, government told Lok Sabha. Junior minister for health Prataprao Jadhav said Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) - India's apex food regulator - through its four regional offices and state/UT food safety authorities, conducts regular localised and targeted special enforcement and surveillance drives, including National Annual Surveillance Plan (NASP), inspections and sampling activities, throughout the year. If any deviations from the standards or violations to Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR) are observed, the defaulting food business operators (FBOs) are subject to regulatory action, including punitive measures. In a written reply to a Parliament question, Jadhav said 1.7 lakh food samples were analysed in 2024-25. Of these, 34,388 were found to be non-conforming and cases were launched in 31,407 cases. In 2023-24 too, approximately 1.7 lakh samples were analysed and 33,808 of them were found to be non-conforming, the minister said.
Time of India
04-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Now, all food plaza outlets on expressway under scrutiny
Pune: The state Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has planned to inspect all outlets at the food plaza along the Pune-Mumbai Expressway after finding some hygiene issues at a branch of Cafe Goodluck. "We will conduct larger checks at all food outlets at the Pune-Mumbai Expressway food plaza. These checks will determine if all outlets are following prescribed compliances. Our food safety inspectors will visit the outlets to conduct an inspection on hygiene, pest control and other basic documents over the next month," said Milind Mahangade, assistant commissioner, FDA, Raigad division. Based on Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, food safety officers check on general hygiene and sanitary practices that food businesses should adhere to. Aspects like pest control, safe water usage, separation of raw and cooked food, and record-keeping and documentation will also be examined. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune In the past few weeks, many consumers are hesitant to eat at these outlets. "During the monsoon, it is difficult to check the quality of food. We have seen flies buzzing around prepared food at the e-way outlets, so we have temporarily stopped eating during Pune-Mumbai trips," said Kondhwa resident Kunal Jadhav. The state FDA recently conducted a re-inspection after receiving a compliance report from the e-way outlet of Cafe Goodluck. "We are still awaiting the reports of food samples taken from the cafe. According to the notice issued to the cafe, they submitted a compliance report, and we just conducted a reinspection of the premises. The compliances were fulfilled according to the guidelines," said an official. On July 25, FDA had issued a notice to the outlet after a customer allegedly found a dead cockroach in an egg bhurji. It did not suspend its licence. The food regulator, FSSAI, recently asked all food business operators, including restaurants, cafes, and eateries, to display their registration certificate with the QR code of the Food Safety Connect App at all customer-facing areas. This is aimed at empowering customers by providing them with a user-friendly platform for grievance redressal.
United News of India
27-06-2025
- Health
- United News of India
Doctors issuing fake medical certificates pose threat to food safety in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, June 27 (UNI) Doctors issuing fake medical certificates to hotel employees have undermined the Kerala Health Department's efforts to ensure food safety standards. Citing incidents where hotel employees were found in possession of fake medical certificates at several locations, Kerala Health Minister Veena George has directed the Health Department and the Food Safety Department to conduct a statewide inspection of health cards. The directive follows a report from Pathanamthitta, where an inspection by the Health Department raised suspicions that a catering unit had obtained fake health cards from a laboratory. Subsequently, the minister ordered a comprehensive investigation along with statewide inspections. As per the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, it is mandatory for all employees working in food establishments to possess a valid health card. To facilitate this, Karunya pharmacies are providing the typhoid vaccine at a highly affordable rate. Establishments found employing workers without a valid health card or with fake medical certificates will have their licences cancelled, the minister warned. She further stated that legal action will be taken against doctors issuing fake medical certificates, including the suspension of their licences. Health cards are issued after medical examinations to ensure that individuals involved in food preparation and distribution are free from contagious diseases. This is crucial, as viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms can be transmitted through food handlers, potentially leading to outbreaks of disease. Therefore, medical tests are conducted to verify that employees are free from infectious diseases, wounds, skin infections, and other health issues. According to the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, the medical fitness certificate obtained after the examination must be kept on record at the establishment. UNI DS ARN
