Karnataka FDA inspects sweet shops, issues notices for violations

FDA officials inspect a sweets shop in Gokak, Belagavi Bengaluru: This festive season, beware of where you buy your sweets from. Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Thursday inspected 80 sweet manufacturing and sales establishments across the state and issued notices to 10 units for alleged violations of food safety norms.

FDA, along with officers of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has launched a special inspection drive at sweet manufacturing and sales establishments from Oct 15 to 17. Officials said the drive was undertaken to ensure the availability of safe sweets for consumers during the festive season and in accordance with directions issued by FSSAI.

“During Dasara and Deepavali, sweets are bulk manufactured everywhere. When prepared in such quantities, it is essential to be careful about safety, expiry dates and such details. Hence, officers are inspecting and if any major violations are found, they will not get permission to open their shops until Deepavali is done,” health minister UT Khader said.

Officials collected 125 food samples from the establishments and sent them to govt food labs for analysis to assess their quality and compliance with food safety standards. During inspections, officials found unhygienic conditions in food preparation and storage areas. Some food handlers did not possess medical certificates, while certain establishments had not obtained the necessary licences or registrations from FSSAI, according to FDA.

Further legal action will be initiated against those found violating provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011, the department said. FDA said it would continue inspections of sweet manufacturing and sales establishments to identify violations of food safety and quality standards.

The results of the 125 samples collected during Thursday’s drive are awaited.