Gujarat: Rajkot civic body seals three food outlets, destroys 179 kg of stale food

Rajkot, July 24 (AHN) The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) sealed three food establishments, destroyed around 179 kg of stale and inedible food and collected 15 food samples for laboratory analysis during a citywide food safety enforcement drive aimed at curbing food adulteration and unhygienic practices.

According to the civic body's Health Branch, the Food Department inspected 92 food establishments and restaurants as part of a surveillance campaign.

Notices were issued to 33 establishments for deficiencies related to storage, food licences and hygienic conditions, while administrative charges totalling Rs 51,500 were recovered.

Fifteen samples were collected under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act and sent for laboratory testing.

Three establishments were sealed during the drive. Shri Khodiyar Chutney was sealed after inspectors found that synthetic food colours, non-food-grade substances and chemicals were allegedly being used in the preparation of sauces.

The establishment was issued a notice regarding hygienic conditions and an administrative charge of Rs 2,000 was imposed. Samples of loose fruit squash, date chutney and green chutney were collected for analysis.

Rajni Namkeen, located in the Vavdi Industrial Area, was also sealed. Civic officials destroyed an estimated 90 kg of stale farsan and other inedible food items at the premises. The establishment was issued a hygiene notice and charged Rs 5,000.

Mahadev Nasta House, situated near Bhimnagar Chowk on Nana Mava Road, was sealed after around 20 kg of inedible food was destroyed.

The establishment received notices regarding hygienic conditions and licensing, and an administrative charge of Rs 3,000 was recovered.

Among other enforcement actions, officials destroyed approximately nine kg of inedible food at Celebration Restaurant on University Road and five kg at Satvam Restaurant.

Around 10 kg of coconut khaman and jelly crystals were destroyed at M.S. Super Market on Khodiyarnagar Road, while 20 kg of printed farsan stock was destroyed at Patel Farsan Namkeen on Nandanvan Main Road.

Two kilograms of kokum chutney were also destroyed at Bapa Sitaram Alupuri Khavsa.

Several establishments were issued notices for operating without valid food licences, including Yadunandan Hotel, Balaji Pan and Cold Drinks, Mahalaxmi Pan and Cold Drinks, Patel Pan and Cold Drinks, Nikunj Pan and Cold Drinks, Baba Pan and Cold Drinks, Jalaram Cold Drinks, Harikrupa Provision Store, Shri Chamunda Store and Kirana Bhandar, Vijay Hotel, Khodiyar Dal Pakwan, Shri Ganesh Cold Drinks, Khodiyar Dairy, Khodiyar Pan, Krishna Medical, Pujara Namkeen, Chamunda Provision Store, Ashapura Samosa, Amba Bhavani Namkeen, Jalaram General Store, Shri Kevalam Khamanwala and several other businesses across the city.

Notices for unhygienic conditions were issued to businesses including Bapa Sitaram Alupuri Khavsa, Ghanshyam Pan, Maitri Season Store, Sadguru Sandwich, Kumar Pan and Savariya Ice Gola.

Pramukham Dosa received a notice for improper storage and unlabelled food items, while Mahi Food Products was served a notice for improper storage and inadequate labelling.

Gayatri Dairy Farm was issued a notice for selling sweets without production or use-by dates and for licence-related violations.

The inspection drive also covered dozens of additional food outlets, dairies, pharmacies, provision stores and restaurants across Sanganwa Chowk, Nandanvan, Krushnanagar, Nageshwar Main Road, Khodiyarnagar and other parts of Rajkot.

As part of food quality surveillance, the Food Department collected 15 samples for laboratory examination. These included eight samples from an MDM Kitchen opposite Shastri Maidan, comprising prepared food, spices and gram; two samples of loose farsan products from Mahi Food Products; two milk samples from Shri Krishna Dairy Farm in Mavdi; one milk sample from Bajrang Dairy and Farsan; one loose mixed milk sample from Shri Kailash Dairy Farm; and three loose condiment samples from Shri Khodiyar Chutney.

RMC said the inspections were carried out to strengthen enforcement against food adulteration, unhygienic food handling and non-compliance with food safety regulations across the city.