Gujarat: Ahmedabad civic body seals confectionery unit; halts sale of 1,500 kg lollipop stock
Ahmedabad, Aug 10
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has sealed a confectionery manufacturing unit in Hirawadi after a health inspection found unhygienic conditions and multiple violations of food safety requirements, including the absence of protective clothing and medical fitness records for workers.
The AMC Health Food Department inspected Manan Food at Shed No. 350/B/3, Laxmi Pottery, G.D. High School Road, Hirawadi, on Monday and found its owner, Nareshbhai Mangwani, manufacturing sugar-boiled confectionery, described as lollipop mixed flavour.
According to the civic body, the establishment held a retailer's licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, but was engaged in manufacturing the confectionery product.
The inspection also found that the provisions of Schedule 4 of the Act were not being followed at the premises.
The civic health team reported that the premises were in an extremely unhygienic condition and that waste and damaged scrap had accumulated at the site.
Workers employed at the unit were also found without caps, aprons and gloves, while medical fitness reports had not been obtained for them.
The AMC said the premises were sealed with immediate effect in the interest of public health. It also suspended 1,500 kg of sugar-boiled confectionery-lollipop mixed flavour from sale, with the stock valued at Rs 4.50 lakh.
The action comes as the civic body's food department steps up checks of food businesses for hygiene standards and compliance with licensing and registration requirements.
The AMC said its teams would carry out further inspections of food establishments across the city.
"Establishments found operating without the required licence or registration, or failing to comply with food safety regulations, would face action under the Food Safety and Standards Act and the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act," the civic body said.
The AMC's action was based on deficiencies identified during the inspection of the specific premises, and the civic body did not disclose any further action against the owner or workers in its note.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is the reality of small-scale food businesses people. The owner was running a manufacturing unit on a retailer's license - that's just plain illegal. But what about the big brands? They are also cutting corners. AMC should not just target small units in Hirawadi. Need a thorough check of all food factories in the city, not just like this one-off inspection.
Yaar, this is why I always prefer branded lollipops for my kids. Choco, Alpino, etc. I know they have their issues too but at least they maintain some hygiene. These local aunty shops sell lollipops at ₹1-2 each and parents happily give to children without thinking. It's a wake-up call for all consumers and parents.
Good step by AMC, but they should also check the supply chain - where was this 1500 kg of lollipops going to? Which shops and distributors were purchasing from Manan Food? Merely sealing the unit doesn't solve the problem if these products have already reached the market. Need to trace and recall those batches, otherwise it's all just a show for the media.
As someone who works in food safety standards in the US, this is a common issue everywhere. The regulations are there, but enforcement is lax, especially for smaller producers. I appreciate that Ahmedabad is taking this seriously. The ₹4.50 lakh stock being suspended is nothing compared to the public health risk. Hopefully this creates awareness among manufacturers and they follow the rules.
Yeh sab bahut badhiya hai
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