Indore Food Safety Team Seizes 341 Kg, Halts Agency Over Suspected Mawa Adulteration

The Food Safety Administration, District Indore, has seized approximately 341 kilograms of food material valued at around Rs 75,000 and stopped the food business of Shri Shyam Food Agency in Gram Ahirkhedi with immediate effect over suspected adulteration in mawa and the absence of a suitable category of food registration for manufacturing food products.

The action was carried out ahead of the Diwali festival as part of special inspections and food sample collection being conducted to ensure the quality and safety of food items. The inspection and sampling drive is being carried out under the direction of Shri Manoj Pushp, Commissioner Food Safety Madhya Pradesh and Controller, Food and Drug Administration, Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal, and under the guidance of Shri Shivam Verma, Collector, District Indore.

During the action, the Food Safety team inspected five food establishments and collected a total of 12 food samples for testing. The establishments were associated with the manufacture of ghee, dairy products, sweets, namkeen and other food items.

At Shri Shyam Food Agency in Gram Ahirkhedi, the team found that mawa was being manufactured. The inspection indicated that fat was being removed from milk and skimmed milk powder was then being mixed into it to prepare mawa. Vanaspati oil was also found available on the premises.

Based on the conditions found at the site, the team suspected that fat was being removed from milk and vanaspati was being used in the preparation of mawa. The inspection also found that a suitable category of food registration for manufacturing food products was not available at the premises.

The team collected five samples from Shri Shyam Food Agency for testing. These included two samples of sweet mawa, one sample of vanaspati, one sample of semolina and one sample of skimmed milk powder.

On the basis of the suspected adulteration, approximately 298 kilograms of mawa, 28 kilograms of vanaspati and 15 kilograms of semolina were seized. Together, the seized material weighed approximately 341 kilograms and had an estimated value of around Rs 75,000.

The food business at the premises was stopped with immediate effect because the required category of food registration was not available. Shri Kansingh Rajpurohit, the person in charge of Shri Shyam Food Agency, was found present during the inspection. The samples are being sent to a laboratory for testing, and further action will be taken according to the rules after the reports are received.

The team also inspected Vinayak Food and Dairy Industries, located at Gram Badhiya Keema on Nemawar Road. Through Shri Aman Goyal, one sample of loose ghee was collected from the establishment for testing.

Another inspection was carried out at Agni Dairy Industries, located at Gram Dhulet on Nemawar Road. Through Shri Vijay Goyal, the team collected three samples for testing. These were Agni ghee, Sapora ghee and loose butter.

The samples collected from Vinayak Food and Dairy Industries and Agni Dairy Industries will be sent to a laboratory for testing according to the prescribed procedure. Further action will be taken according to the rules after the test reports are received.

At Shri Kunj Enterprises in Gram Ahirkhedi, the team found that sonpapdi was being manufactured and packed. Through Shri Ankit Mangal, one sample of sonpapdi was collected for testing.

Several shortcomings were found during the inspection of Shri Kunj Enterprises. A pest control certificate was not available at the premises. Food products were not being stored on pallets. Medical health certificates of the workers were also not available. The cleanliness arrangements at the premises were found to be unsatisfactory.

A notice is being issued to the operator of the establishment over these shortcomings. The operator is also being given necessary directions to improve food safety and hygiene arrangements at the premises.

The Food Safety team inspected Marballo Food Products in Gram Palda, Indore. Shri Rashmit Singh, the food business operator, was found present at the time of the inspection.

The inspection found raw food materials stored in the storage area in a highly poor condition. Pallets were not being used for the storage of food products. Cobwebs were found in the production area, where chocolate cones were found being manufactured in unhygienic conditions.

The jelly manufacturing area was found to have excessive dirt. Water and dirt had accumulated in the drain. A toilet was found located inside the production area, which was not in line with good food hygiene practices.

The labels on the chocolate cones being prepared for export were also found to be incomplete. A notice is being issued to the establishment over the shortcomings found during the inspection. Necessary directions are being given to ensure compliance with hygiene and food safety standards during the manufacture, storage and packing of food products.

Two samples of jelly were collected from the premises for testing. These samples are being sent to a laboratory, and further action will be taken according to the rules after the test reports are received.

The inspection at the five establishments resulted in the collection of 12 food samples in total. These included one sample of loose ghee from Vinayak Food and Dairy Industries, three samples of Agni ghee, Sapora ghee and loose butter from Agni Dairy Industries, five samples from Shri Shyam Food Agency, one sample of sonpapdi from Shri Kunj Enterprises and two samples of jelly from Marballo Food Products.

The Food Safety Administration is carrying out inspections of food manufacturing and selling establishments during the Diwali festival to ensure that the general public receives clean, safe and quality food products. Food business operators are being directed to manufacture food products in clean and safe conditions, follow food safety standards and avoid any kind of adulteration in food products.

During the inspections, special attention is being given to the safe storage of food products, regular cleaning of manufacturing sites and equipment, personal hygiene, pest control and protection of food products from external contamination.

The food samples collected during the inspections are being sent to laboratories for testing. Further action will be taken according to the rules on the basis of the reports received from the laboratories.

The Food Safety Administration, District Indore, said the inspection and sample collection drive would continue during the Diwali festival to ensure the availability of safe and quality food products for the general public.