The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSA) has initiated legal proceedings against Surya Food & Agro Ltd, which is known for Priyagold biscuits besides Dodla Dairy Ltd and Ueir Organic Foods Pvt Ltd for serious food safety violations. Also, it has issued notices to Narpadham Foods, Sun Ridges Health Carers, and Sha Kantilal Jayantilal.
“The authority maintains zero tolerance for any food safety violations or compromises on public health as per FSS Act 2006, ensuring that strict legal consequences follow for non-compliant food business operators,” the regulator said in a social media post.
In the case of Surya Food & Agro, FSSAI said that an inspection conducted, after receiving a consumer complaint, revealed “serious food safety and hygiene deficiencies.” “Bran meant for cattle feed and not intended for human consumption was being used as a raw material for Priyagold as a source of fiber,” the regulator said in a social media post. Other deficiencies included plant hygiene, pest control, raw material storage and segregation, personnel hygiene, premises maintenance, among others, it added.
“The FSSAI license of Surya Food & Agro has been suspended following serious non-compliances observed during inspection. The competent authority granted sanction for initiating prosecution against Surya Food & Agro for violations,” it noted.
Meanwhile, prosecution has been initiated against Ueir Organic Foods Pvt Ltd after a regulatory sample of Yellow Raisins-an Organic Food was found to be “unsafe due to pesticide residues exceeding prescribed limits,” Upon appeal by the FBO, the sample was sent to a Referral Laboratory, which confirmed that the Yellow Raisin sample was unsafe due to Thiamethoxam and Fluopyram metabolites exceeding the prescribed limit, the food safety regulator said.
Prosecution has also been initiated against Dodla Dairy after a regulatory sample of “Full Cream Milk” was found to be substandard as it did not conform with the milk fat specification prescribed by the regulations. “ Upon appeal by the FBO, the sample was referred to the Referral Food Laboratory, which confirmed that the sample was found to be unsafe due to presence of detergent/ caustic soda and substandard due to the milk fat below the minimum prescribed limits,” the FSSAI said in its post.
FSSAI has sent a notice to Narpadham Foods for various food safety, hygiene and licensing non-compliances. “ The FBO has been asked to review and correct any misleading health or nutrition claims on product labels and promotional materials and remove Retail category from its FSSAI license, as no retail outlet is operated. The FBO must also submit a written explanation, an action taken report and a compliance report within the stipulated time period. Failure to comply may result in suspension or cancellation of the license,” it added.
A notice has been sent to Sha Kantilal Jayantilal, after an inspection found the licensed premises were closed and details have been sought regarding its “actual business activities, the food safety regulator said. At the same time, notice has been issued to Sun Ridges Health Carers for food safety, storage and hygiene non-compliance