On March 9, a team of food safety officials conducted a surprise
inspection at a popular departmental store near Viswanathapuram on Old
Natham Road.
A routine exercise turned into a major catch for the Food Safety
Officers who were taken aback by the gross violations. While the
customers were picking items off the shelf, the inspection team was busy
pulling out products which had crossed their expiry date.
The enforcement wing of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 is
cracking down on food business operators who are taking customers for a
ride by selling sub-standard or misbranded food products.
For instance, this particular raid brought to light how children’s
favourite snack items were being sold weeks beyond the expiry date. The
‘karachevu’ packets priced at Rs.45 each for which the use by date was
February 28, were still there on the racks on March 9. Some items such
as butter biscuits had no packaged date at all.
Colourful biscuit packets showing an expiry date of January 22 on the
labels, flour packets with no address and snacks which should have been
removed from the racks after their expiry date were seized by the Food
Safety Officers. The store owner was let off with a warning.
“Our objective is not to penalise vendors and shopkeepers. The Act is
for public health. Unsafe food products should not be sold and consumers
should not be cheated,” says J. Suguna, Designated Officer for Food
Safety, Madurai district.
The Act empowers the enforcement authorities to look into manufacturing,
processing, packaging, storage, transportation and sale of food or food
ingredients.
Given the apprehensions among traders and vendors, the officials are
conducting awareness programmes in urban and rural areas.
Simultaneously, they are also conducting surprise checks to catch those
involved in adulteration.
All Food Business Operators come under the purview of the Act.
Government-run Fair Price Shops, civil supplies godowns, TASMAC bars,
HR&CE temples’ annadhanam scheme, restaurants/hotels, Adi Dravida
and Tribal hostels, college hostels, noon meal centres, departmental
stores, retail shops, road side eateries, canteens and dhabas come under
the ambit of the Act.
L.K. Muralidharan, Food Safety Officer (Madurai East), says that a
license or registration certificate is a must to run any type of food
business depending on the annual turnover. The Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India has extended the deadline to February 2014 to obtain
the licence.
There are 18,463 food business units in Madurai district of which 4,688
are uner the Government and the remaining 13,775 are private. As per the
registration and licensing status up to February this year, only 6,929
units (5,409 private and 1,520 Government) have completed the mandatory
formalities.
According to K. Saravanan, Food Safety Officer (North), more awareness
programmes have been planned with the support of Self-Help Groups,
voluntary organisations and associations to promote food safety
licensing.
He says that shortage of manpower is a constraint in carrying out
extensive checks. “If we conduct a raid on a particular business
premises, it takes at least two hours to seize the materials and seal
the shop. We made a representation asking for appointment of office
attendants who can be used during raids. If we go as a group, then
shopkeepers will have some fear,” he says.
In Madurai district, there are 26 Food Safety Officers posted in urban
and rural areas. But they are aggrieved that there is no proper office
for the food safety team in rural areas, whereas their urban
counterparts manage with support from the Corporation. Officials say
that major violations were found in the sale of edible oil, bread and
snacks. “During our raids in the city and in Thirumangalam, we found
that non-edible oil meant for lamp lighting (pooja purpose) was being
sold. We seized the oil and dumped it,” says Mr. Saravanan.
Meetings to raise quality consciousness are being conducted for small
and big units, but what is worrying the food safety wing is the
negligence on the part of the popular stores. They are keeping a check
on ‘idli and dosa’ flour, gravy and other pre-packed items.
Recently, marriage halls were asked to engage only those catering units
and food contractors who have the food safety registration certificate.
Right now, the officials are not keen on imposing fines or penalties.
They are hoping that the chambers of commerce, public, businessmen and
shops will take the food safety issue as food for thought and gradually
fall in line.
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