Port Blair, Oct. 24: The District Food Safety Unit under the overall supervision of the District Magistrate, South Andaman is taking all measures to ensure safe and wholesome food to all consumers as guaranteed under Food Safety & Standard Act’ 2006.
To prevent any untoward incidents during festive occasions, the District Magistrate has already constituted two separate teams headed by Additional District Magistrate and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, South Andaman. During Durga pooja and Deepawali festivals, these teams visited and inspected almost all bake houses/sweet stalls situated at Port Blair and adjoining areas. During inspection and surprise checks few bake houses and sweet manufacturing units were found manufacturing/handling foods in un-hygienic conditions.
Processing/handling food for human consumption in un-hygienic and in-sanitary conditions is an offence under the Act and is punishable with fine only. Accordingly, the concerned Food Safety Officers have been authorized to file application before the notified adjudicating officer for adjudication of offence against 6 bake houses/sweet manufacturing units.
Further, 5 samples of Khoa (milk solids) which is a main ingredient used in preparing milk based sweets were collected from different sweet manufacturing units have been already dispatched to a National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration of Laboratories (NABL) accredited laboratory situated at Kolkata for analysis and report. On receipt of analysis and report, in case any of the samples is found to be adulterated/sub-standard or un-safe, strict action shall be initiated against the sweet manufacturer under the provision of FSS Act’ 2006, a communication from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, South Andaman said here today.
