May 29, 2019
FDA has slapped Maganlal Chikki with a fine of ₹5L
Three different adjudications filed against the sweet makers for violating food safety norms
The state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has slapped a fine of Rs 5 lakh on Lonavala-based Maganlal Food Products, manufacturer of Maganlal Chikki, on Monday after the latter was found guilty of violating the food safety norms. The agency has initiated an adjudication against the century-old chain of sweet manufacturers for violating the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011. Earlier the maker of the traditional Indian sweet was ordered to shut down production and sale of chikkis and even issued an improvement notice. Three different adjudications were filed against the manufacturer for the alleged violations, officials said.
In December last year, the FDA had conducted a surprise visit at the famous chikki-manufacturing unit of Nangargaon, in Lonavala, only to find the makers flouting health and hygiene norms as set by the FDA. More shockingly, despite conducting business for the past 100 years, the unit was found to not get the raw materials, food products checked according to the food safety rules. Consequently, Maganlal Food Products was issued an improvement notice and even asked to halt production and sale of its famed product. Co-owner and business partner Ashok Agarwal was present when the unit was raided.
Suresh Deshmukh, joint commissioner, FDA, Pune, said, “We have fined the manufacturer to the tune of Rs 5 lakh for the three different adjudications — violations of food safety and hygiene norms, missing veg logo in advertisements and usage of synthetic colour above permissible limit in the strawberry chikki. A sum of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh, respectively, were levied.”
Deshmukh said, “Earlier they were asked to halt their business and given an improvement notice. Only after the criteria were met, they were allowed to commence business after 15 days. We have given them a one-month time to pay the sum towards the fine.”
Talking about the violations, Agarwal said, “We have made necessary changes and will soon pay the penalty amount. In future too, Maganlala Chikki will function as per the food safety norms.”
In December 2018, FDA officials had conducted a raid at Nangargaon unit
Of 127 food samples, none fails quality test
Residents get food samples checked on the food safety van in Patiala on Monday.
Patiala, May 27
Out of 127 food samples collected by a mobile food testing van, none of the sample has failed quality test. The food testing van was flagged by the Health Department on May 16.
Of these, 85 were of milk and milk products while 40 samples were of khoya. The department had tested 29 samples in Patiala city, 36 in Rajpura, 15 in Nabha, 12 in Bhadson, 20 in Bahadurgarh and 15 in Samana.
The health officials informed that the food testing lab would be available in the district until May 31. The officials said the food testing van was fully equipped to conduct tests for adulteration in milk, water, edible oils and other items.
District Health Officer (DHO) Satinder Singh said, “So far, all food samples have passed the quality test. The main aim of the van is to check food adulteration. The results are positive because we had instructed food handlers in the district to follow the FSSAI food safety standards.”
He said in case a sample fails the quality test, the department would send it to the state food lab in Kharar to get the complete report. Based on the state lab report, fine would be decided, he added.
The DHO said the lab on wheels would visit different areas of the city and residents could avail the facility to know the quality of food products being used at their homes. He said people would have to pay a fee of Rs 50 per sample for getting it tested. The van is funded by the Central Government and follows the guidelines of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
He said, “The mobile testing van was an initiative to ensure that residents eat hygienic food as per the food safety guidelines. Milk, milk products, tea leaves, spices and condiments, sugar, water and other edibles can be tested.”
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