RANCHI: In a bid to
tighten noose around the shopkeepers supplying adulterated eatables, the
food and safety department of the state government has filed cases
against 43 shops and hotels here for violation of rules.
According to the additional chief medical officer N N Sengupta, the cases were registered against some of the major hotels and shops after department officials raided them and found violation of the food and safety standard norms.
Sengupta said the raids were being carried out after the Jharkhand high court took suo motu cognizance of a PIL T P Burnwal, the director in chief of the department, said the PIL
on implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 filed in 2012. The high court has asked the department to file a detailed report by April 22 about the quality of food in restaurants, mineral water, sauces, sale of banned gutkha and spurious drinks in the city.
The cases registered include misbranding of baby corn and paneer by a couple of hotels and some shops.
According to the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, there is a provision of imprisonment for major defaulters and a provision of fine up to Rs 10 lakh in minor cases. Sengupta said, "In general kind of cases, the offenders can get away with penalty; those charged with injury to health might be subjected to imprisonment also."
Officials said a special team would carry out inspections in Ranchi shops during the next five days. "We have found that several vendors are selling spurious drinks and mineral water with expiry labels and logos of branded products," said a senior official.
The department is also planning to spread awareness among vendors about maintaining the quality of food products and banning sale of gutkha in the city.
According to the additional chief medical officer N N Sengupta, the cases were registered against some of the major hotels and shops after department officials raided them and found violation of the food and safety standard norms.
Sengupta said the raids were being carried out after the Jharkhand high court took suo motu cognizance of a PIL T P Burnwal, the director in chief of the department, said the PIL
on implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 filed in 2012. The high court has asked the department to file a detailed report by April 22 about the quality of food in restaurants, mineral water, sauces, sale of banned gutkha and spurious drinks in the city.
The cases registered include misbranding of baby corn and paneer by a couple of hotels and some shops.
According to the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, there is a provision of imprisonment for major defaulters and a provision of fine up to Rs 10 lakh in minor cases. Sengupta said, "In general kind of cases, the offenders can get away with penalty; those charged with injury to health might be subjected to imprisonment also."
Officials said a special team would carry out inspections in Ranchi shops during the next five days. "We have found that several vendors are selling spurious drinks and mineral water with expiry labels and logos of branded products," said a senior official.
The department is also planning to spread awareness among vendors about maintaining the quality of food products and banning sale of gutkha in the city.
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