Food safety officials in Gautam Buddh Nagar seized 6,425 kg of food items worth about Rs 70.83 lakh and destroyed another 1,025 kg of perishable products during a special inspection drive ahead of Diwali, news agency Press Trust of India reported.The Food Safety and Drug Administration conducted the drive from October 9 to November 5. It also collected 129 samples for laboratory testing, issued improvement notices to 35 food establishments and suspended the licences or registrations of four establishments over serious irregularities, the district administration said in a statement issued on Friday.Assistant Commissioner (Food-II) Sarvesh Mishra told PTI, "A total of 6,425 kg of food items, valued at approximately Rs 70,83,900, was seized on suspicion of adulteration, misbranding and violations of food safety regulations."He said 1,025 kg of perishable food items, including sweets and khoya, worth about Rs 2,96,500, was destroyed after it was found apparently unfit for consumption.
Officials suspected adulteration or unhygienic conditions during manufacturing, storage, sale or transportation. The campaign was conducted across the district on the directions of the district magistrate to ensure the availability of safe and unadulterated food and beverages during the festive season.
Food safety teams inspected food establishments, manufacturing and storage facilities, sales points and the transportation of food products, according to the administration.Mishra said food business operators had been directed to buy food items only from licensed or registered suppliers, retain purchase bills and check manufacturing dates, batch numbers and other mandatory details before storing or selling products. He said the department would continue inspections and raids to enforce food safety standards and take action against those violating the rules.
The nearly month-long drive resulted in the seizure and destruction of food products, laboratory testing of samples and action against establishments found with irregularities.- Ends