Karnataka Shuts Seven Packaged Water Units Over Hygiene, Licence Violations

Seven packaged drinking water units closed for violations in Karnataka

Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration has closed seven packaged drinking water units after inspections found severe unhygienic conditions, missing mandatory licences and non-cooperation with inspection teams.

The action was taken during a Statewide special inspection drive targeting packaged drinking water units across Karnataka.

Officials also seized 82 cases of one-litre packaged drinking water bottles, valued at ₹7,380, from M.S. Food and Beverages in Devanahalli taluk of Bengaluru Rural district after detecting labelling defects.

102 units inspected

The department inspected 102 packaged drinking water units between October 29 and 30.

It collected 69 water samples for laboratory analysis and issued notices to 53 food business operators, or FBOs, for various violations.

On the second day of the drive, officials inspected 57 units and collected 37 samples for testing.

Notices were issued to 29 units for violations that included unhygienic conditions, the absence of medical certificates for food handlers, labelling defects, non-availability of water analysis reports and a lack of mandatory pest control certificates.

The findings covered both operational and documentation-related failures at the inspected units.

Units closed for hygiene violations

Among the units shut down for severe unhygienic conditions were S.P. Food and Beverages in Hassan district, Avanti Industries in Bengaluru Urban district and Sai Ram Food Beverages in Bidar district.

The department also closed Nandi Food and Beverages in Kalaburagi, where officials found both the absence of a mandatory licence and unhygienic conditions.

The closures therefore included units cited for the condition of their premises as well as those found to be operating without required regulatory approval.

Licence and inspection violations

Om Shakthi Minerals in Bengaluru Urban, Nandi Food and Beverages in Kalaburagi and Dalia Beverages in Mysuru Rural were shut down for operating without the mandatory Food Safety and Standards Authority of India licence.

Aqua Refresh Packaged Drinking Water Unit in Kalaburagi district was closed after non-cooperation during inspection and investigation.

The department has sent the samples collected during the inspections to government food laboratories.

The laboratories will assess the quality of the samples and their compliance with prescribed food safety standards.

The special inspection drive will continue across the State, the department said.

It also warned that stringent legal action would be initiated against packaged drinking water units found violating the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules framed under it.

Source: The Hindu