FSSAI begins inspection of CG Foods due to unsafe product handling

Ahead of festivals such as Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami, the demand for sweets significantly increases. It is during this period that unscrupulous producers attempt to bring counterfeit or low-quality mawa and cheese to the market. Due to these concerns, the Food and Drug Safety Department team in Baghpat initiated a inspection campaign in the district.

Department staff inspected mawa factories and public catering establishments in various areas. They checked the quality of the mawa and cheese being prepared. The team also collected food samples from several locations, which were sent to the laboratory for analysis.

During the inspection, about 400 kilograms of mawa were discovered, and suspicious cheese was seized from different places. Food products that did not meet established standards during the check were destroyed before they could reach the market. Food department staff buried the substandard and suspicious mawa and cheese in pits.

Samples of materials requiring quality checks were preserved and sent to the laboratory to determine their true quality. This check was conducted before the start of the festive season, causing concern among mawa and cheese traders. The department emphasized that no compromises on food quality would be tolerated and announced the continuation of the campaign to prevent the sale of counterfeit goods in the market.

Assistant Commissioner of the Food and Drug Safety Department D.P. Singh stated that raids were conducted at mawa factories in many places as part of the Raksha Bandhan celebrations. As a result, about 400 kg of mawa and cheese were detained from various points. Materials that did not meet standards were destroyed.

According to D.P. Singh, the collected samples were sent for testing. Appropriate action will be taken against the relevant traders upon receipt of the report according to the rules. The department will also monitor establishments from which complaints or suspicions of using counterfeit or low-quality food products originate. The goal of the food department's actions is to ensure people have access to safe and high-quality food during the holidays. This initiative indicates that the fight against the spread of counterfeit mawa or cheese, used to profit from increased demand for sweets during festivals, will continue.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced on Sunday the suspension of the Marche Retail license and issued a prohibition order for SDP Industries.

In a post on the social media platform X, the regulator stated that the suspension of the retail chain Marche Retail's license (which operates Le Marche Retail) was carried out after discovering serious violations during initial and subsequent inspections of food business premises. The retail chain's license was immediately suspended for a period of 30 days.

FSSAI directed the food enterprise operator to immediately cease all food business activities until the identified deficiencies are rectified and compliance is confirmed by the competent authority.

Regarding SDP Industries, an order was issued banning the sale of non-compliant ghee products due to concerns about adulteration. FSSAI notified that SDP Industries must immediately stop selling all types of ghee produced, stored, or sold at its authorized locations and ensure that the prohibited products do not enter the market or are sold to consumers until further notice.

Furthermore, concerning Marche Retail, it was noted that the inspection revealed issues related to design, operational control, sanitation, personal hygiene, employee training, and maintenance of mandatory documentation. Mandatory medical records for employees were also missing, and prescribed safety and hygiene documentation was not properly maintained.

FSSAI reported that the overall compliance score for the unit in the repeat inspection was only 37 percent, placing it in the category of non-compliant.

As for SDP Industries, the regulator indicated that numerous ghee products manufactured by the company, including variants under the brands SHRADDHA, SHREE SARAS, and GOKUL, were found to be non-compliant with the applicable requirements of the FSS Act, 2006, and subordinate legislation. FSSAI added that because the violations were multiple and ongoing across various samples, periods, and product variants, the issue could not be limited to any single batch or product.