The Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) warned sweet vendors against improper and unhygienic preparation, transportation and storage of sweets, warning them of severe action.
In a statement to the press, Director of FDA Salim Veljee said that the FDA has been receiving several complaints from consumers that the sweets they buy go bad the very next day.
“The department has been receiving several complaints where the sweets especially pedhas and barfis went rancid the very next day. We warned the vendors not to mix old sweets while preparing fresh sweets. This is the main cause why sweets go bad, turn sour or get discolored,” Dr Veljee explained.
The FDA also warned the sellers and manufacturers that they should not transport sweets without refrigeration or through railway which does not offer refrigeration services.
“They were warned that they should not transport sweets either by road or railway without refrigeration and ensure that all such products carry proper labelling declaration of the manufacturer from where it is procured and also to ensure that they procure such items only from licensed FSSAI vendors,” Veljee said.
The meeting, attended by around 40 leading sweet marts/mithai vendors from Panjim, Mapusa, Ponda, Vasco, Margao was scheduled ahead of the festive season.
Ahead of Ganesh the FDA had conducted several raids on sweet shops and seized a consignment of sweets from the railways that was unmarked and arrived at the Vasco Railway Station.
The vendors were also informed about the need to maintain strict sanitary and hygienic conditions at premises where sweets are prepared and the importance of use of permitted colours and limits, as excess use of colours can lead to adverse impact on health. They have to also strictly use silver leaves and not aluminum leaves, which are not permitted under the law.
“The department has been receiving several complaints where the sweets especially pedhas and barfis went rancid the very next day. We warned the vendors not to mix old sweets while preparing fresh sweets. This is the main cause why sweets go bad, turn sour or get discolored,” Dr Veljee explained.
The FDA also warned the sellers and manufacturers that they should not transport sweets without refrigeration or through railway which does not offer refrigeration services.
“They were warned that they should not transport sweets either by road or railway without refrigeration and ensure that all such products carry proper labelling declaration of the manufacturer from where it is procured and also to ensure that they procure such items only from licensed FSSAI vendors,” Veljee said.
The meeting, attended by around 40 leading sweet marts/mithai vendors from Panjim, Mapusa, Ponda, Vasco, Margao was scheduled ahead of the festive season.
Ahead of Ganesh the FDA had conducted several raids on sweet shops and seized a consignment of sweets from the railways that was unmarked and arrived at the Vasco Railway Station.
The vendors were also informed about the need to maintain strict sanitary and hygienic conditions at premises where sweets are prepared and the importance of use of permitted colours and limits, as excess use of colours can lead to adverse impact on health. They have to also strictly use silver leaves and not aluminum leaves, which are not permitted under the law.
No comments:
Post a Comment