Drive against erring food business operators from July 1 in Karnataka

It will focus on packaged water, milk, meat stalls and small food units

Did you know that if a shop or a manufacturer sells you a food product that lacks the prescribed standards, they can be fined up to Rs. 5 lakh?

They can also be made to cough up a penalty of up to Rs. 10 lakh if their products are adulterated or if they are misleading people through wrong advertisements. They may also attract huge penalty if their products are either made or sold under unhygienic conditions or they provide wrong information about ingredients.

These provisions have been made in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. All that the consumers need to do is lodge a complaint with the Food Safety Commissioner either in person or over phone.

Food Safety Commissioner S.N. Jairam told reporters here on Saturday that the government would launch a Statewide drive from July 1 against erring food business operators.

Though hotels too were controlled by this Act, the drive was not focussing on them for now as there was a case in this regard before the court, he said.He said August 4 was the last date for food business operators to register themselves and get licence. Violators could face imprisonment of six months and penalty of Rs. 5 lakh. Of the nearly 4 lakh food business operators in the State, only 1.3 lakh had registered themselves so far. There is provision for online registration as well. Consumers who have complaints can call toll-free number 180042513825 from July 1.