Why sauce, cheese are falling foul

Goods worth ₹2,000 crore stuck at ports for not meeting new labelling norms

MUMBAI, DECEMBER 18: 

Restaurant managers in star hotels across the country are having a tough time serving continental dishes such as lamb rack, Norwegian Salmon and cooked caviar.

Reason: Imported sauces, cheese and other condiments are in short supply. Since January, many of crucial ingredients are stuck with the Customs Department at various ports.New labelling rules

The Department cannot clear these goods because under the new rules and regulations of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, these items violate labelling regulations.

A senior Customs Department official told BusinessLine that a large number of containers with goods worth about ₹2,000 crore are stuck. “Some attempts are being made to re-label the packages, but the process is slow. Some items might cross the ‘best use’ date,” the official said.Prices shoot up

Sanjeev Shekhar, General Manager of Hotel Marine Plaza in South Mumbai, said his hotel has been paying higher prices for imported ingredients since January. Hence, in April the rates of all dishes on the menu were increased by 15-20 per cent. The hotel has stocked certain ingredients but this is depleting fast. If supply does not improve then “the situation could get difficult,” he said.

The price of cranberry sauce has risen from ₹340 per 125 ml to ₹475; Parmesan Cheese from ₹480 per 200 gm to ₹650. The price of US made premium coffee Maxwell has increased by ₹480 per 200 gm to ₹700.