In spite of claims by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) about strengthening implementation bodies - FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and FDCA (Food and Drugs Control Administration) - in terms of manpower and infrastructure for ensuring that Food Business Operators (FBOs) in the country comply with the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, lack of adequate manpower still seems to be a key issue.
Such is the state of affairs that in some cities in the country, municipal corporations and civic bodies have been roped in to form flying squads that would land up at the FBOs’ or hotels and restaurants’ premises unannounced for keeping an eye on aspects like cooking in unhygienic conditions and serving stale or sub-standard foods.
F&B News has learnt that flying squads have been formed in Ahmedabad, Mumbai and its neighbouring cities (Navi Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli) and Kochi.
Ahmedabad
An official from the Ahmedabad civic body's health department, on the condition of anonymity, admitted that the FSSAI had come up with strict regulations for FBOs, but keeping a check was a difficult task.
Hence, "Our civic body has constituted flying squads, which will check the sale of stale and sub-standard food in the city. If any people come across eateries or shopkeepers cooking under unhygienic conditions or serving stale food, they can approach the civic body's health department, who will come to the rescue of the public, and force the errant establishments to pull up their socks," an official from the civic body said.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Such is the state of affairs that in some cities in the country, municipal corporations and civic bodies have been roped in to form flying squads that would land up at the FBOs’ or hotels and restaurants’ premises unannounced for keeping an eye on aspects like cooking in unhygienic conditions and serving stale or sub-standard foods.
F&B News has learnt that flying squads have been formed in Ahmedabad, Mumbai and its neighbouring cities (Navi Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli) and Kochi.
Ahmedabad
An official from the Ahmedabad civic body's health department, on the condition of anonymity, admitted that the FSSAI had come up with strict regulations for FBOs, but keeping a check was a difficult task.
Hence, "Our civic body has constituted flying squads, which will check the sale of stale and sub-standard food in the city. If any people come across eateries or shopkeepers cooking under unhygienic conditions or serving stale food, they can approach the civic body's health department, who will come to the rescue of the public, and force the errant establishments to pull up their socks," an official from the civic body said.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Speaking to F&B News, Suresh Shetty, Maharashtra's health minister, said, "There are already FDA officials to check sub-standard quality and stale foods. However, some of the FBOs have been left out by the state FDA officials due to manpower problems."
"The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) and other municipal corporations of the western state have constituted flying squads," he said.
"These will keep a check on FBOs round the clock, so that they can't sell sub-standard and stale foods impacting the health of the customers. The public can approach them whenever they find out that they have been served stale food, and the flying squads will promptly take action against the culprits," Shetty added.
Kochi
T K Ashraf, chairman, health standing committee, Kochi Municipal Corporation, said, "We received several complaints from the public about stale and sub-standard foods and constituted flying squads. These are concerned about the health of the public and they don't want FBOs to sell stale food in the city. People also trust these flying squads to look into their complaints on an urgent basis."
"If you come across any eatery or shopkeeper cooking in unhygienic conditions or serving stale food, please approach the squad which will arrive on the scene and take swift action. People who have complaints about poor sanitation or waste dumped in open places also can approach these squads," he said.
"In future, action will be taken against FBOs selling stale and unhygienic foods will be taken with the help of food safety officials in the city based on people's complaints," Ashraf said. The flying squads have been empowered to issue notices on the spot, but some civic body officials and health experts are not sure whether they can succeed in the curbing sale of stale or sub-standard food.
A senior FSSAI official, who did not wish to be named, said, "Civic officials have no legal authority to check the quality of food items or collect samples. Even if cases are reported, they cannot take any action against the offenders. Recently, the Kochi civic body's health wing seized 1,000 kg rotten meat, which violated the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006."
"The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) and other municipal corporations of the western state have constituted flying squads," he said.
"These will keep a check on FBOs round the clock, so that they can't sell sub-standard and stale foods impacting the health of the customers. The public can approach them whenever they find out that they have been served stale food, and the flying squads will promptly take action against the culprits," Shetty added.
Kochi
T K Ashraf, chairman, health standing committee, Kochi Municipal Corporation, said, "We received several complaints from the public about stale and sub-standard foods and constituted flying squads. These are concerned about the health of the public and they don't want FBOs to sell stale food in the city. People also trust these flying squads to look into their complaints on an urgent basis."
"If you come across any eatery or shopkeeper cooking in unhygienic conditions or serving stale food, please approach the squad which will arrive on the scene and take swift action. People who have complaints about poor sanitation or waste dumped in open places also can approach these squads," he said.
"In future, action will be taken against FBOs selling stale and unhygienic foods will be taken with the help of food safety officials in the city based on people's complaints," Ashraf said. The flying squads have been empowered to issue notices on the spot, but some civic body officials and health experts are not sure whether they can succeed in the curbing sale of stale or sub-standard food.
A senior FSSAI official, who did not wish to be named, said, "Civic officials have no legal authority to check the quality of food items or collect samples. Even if cases are reported, they cannot take any action against the offenders. Recently, the Kochi civic body's health wing seized 1,000 kg rotten meat, which violated the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006."
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