Two bakeries in Madhya Pradesh slapped FDA notices for using saccharin

Two bakeries in Chandan Nagar, Madhya Pradesh - Savera Bakery and New Bharat Bakery - were slapped notices by the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for selling bakery products containing chemicals that are unsafe for human consumption and could trigger cancer.

Manish Swami, Chandan Nagar’s food safety officer (FSO), informed, “We recently collected samples of bakery products from the production units of the two bakeries in Chandan Nagar and found that the products contained saccharin and were unsafe for human consumption.” 

“Saccharin is an artificial sweetner that blocks mental development, triggers stomach and liver disorders and is carcinogenic,” he added. He stated that officials from the department took action after receiving complaints from several consumers.

Swami said, “Samples of toasts were collected from the two bakeries last June, and sent them for testing to the laboratory in Bhopal, whose report revealed the use of saccharine as a sweetener and observed that it is not safe for human consumption.”

“After receiving the report from the laboratory, we issued the notice under Section 46 (4) of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and asked both the establishments to get the samples retested at the Central Food Laboratory in Mysore,” he added. 

“If they fail to submit a detailed report within 30 days after the notice is issued, necessary action would be taken against them. We would be taking steps to prosecute them if they fail to furnish the requisite details in the given time,” stated Swami.

Speaking to FnB News about the comsumption of the toasts produced from bakeries informed, he said, “ The products produced in these two bakeries were largely sold at retail stores and also consumed at tea stalls in the cities.” 

“Both the establishments have an average production of 100kg, which are sold by retail outlets in Indore and nearby cities. We have issued notices. Once the notice period lapses, we would lodge prosecutions and shut their operations.”

Devendra Kumar Verma, senior food safety officer, Madhya Pradesh, said, “ Saccharin, if used in large quantities, is dangerous to health. It must be used in small quantities. It should not be used like food.” 

“The toasts made at the two bakeries against which our officials have taken action aganist and sent notices to contained large quantities of saccharin in their toasts,” he added

When quizzed about the maximum imprisonment for selling unsafe products, he said, “There is a fine that can extend upto Rs 5 lakh, along with a maximum prison term of three years for producing and selling unsafe products.”