Food safety officials seize food products in Kohima

Food safety officials conducting inspection at a food establishment in Kohima on October 11.

KOHIMA, OCTOBER 12 (MExN): Food safety officials along with Kohima Municipal Council officials carried out a joint inspection of food establishments in Kohima on October 11.

During the inspection, some food products which had exceeded best before date was seized by the team from M/S Best Bakery located at PR Hill, Kohima, informed a press note from the Kohima Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

It further notified on the appeal made by food safety regulators of the district for consumers to participate and report to the CMO’s office about any food complaints. “Colony Panchayats/Youth Organisations can also write to the undersigned if joint inspection needs to be done in regard to food items in your colonies,” it informed.

CMO directs food business operators

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kohima meanwhile informed that no Food Business Operators (FBO) shall manufacture, store, sell or distribute any article of food except under a Licence or Registration under Food Safety & Standards (Licensing & Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

Another press release from the CMO informed all FBOs in Kohima to get registered or licenced under the stated regulations, 2011. Defaulters are liable to be penalized as per the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, it cautioned.

To ensure consumer safety, the CMO directed FBOs dealing with fresh fish products to first of all test the fish and to offer them for sale, only when it’s free of Formalin. CMO also requested customers to inquire from the FBO whether the fresh fish were tested and to show the test report as well.