Gujarat: Rajkot civic body destroys 2,601 kg of inedible food
Rajkot, Aug 11
The Rajkot Municipal Corporation's Food Department destroyed around 2,601 kg of stale and inedible food products and inspected 48 establishments during a surveillance drive against food adulteration and unhygienic practices, the civic body said on Tuesday.
The department said eight establishments were issued notices over storage, food licences and hygienic conditions, while administrative charges totalling Rs 8,500 were collected.
Among the major actions, officials inspected Shrinathji Trading on Gondal Road after samples had been collected and stock was kept in abeyance.
The food business operator accepted that approximately 2,570 kg of red chilli powder, turmeric powder and coriander-cumin powder were adulterated and coloured, following which the stock was destroyed using vehicles of the civic body's Solid Waste Management Department.
At Jai Ganesh Enterprise, operating as Sutto Ji Bhar Ke at West Gate Complex near Raiya Chowkdi, eight packets of expired bread and four burger bases were destroyed and a Rs 500 administrative charge was collected.
At Agreetable Inco. Thakor Dwar in Shastrinagar, eight kg of expired cereal products were destroyed, and a Rs 3,000 charge was imposed, besides a notice over hygiene and storage.
Officials also destroyed two kg of stale bread at Jalaram Chinese & Punjabi and issued a licence-related notice.
At Rolito Wraps & More in West Gate Complex, eight packets of expired liquid cheese, 15 kg of material, three packets of bread and two burger bases were destroyed, with a Rs 5,000 charge collected.
Licence-related notices were also issued to Radhe Vadapav, Ravi Madras Cafe, Thakar Dalpakwan, Dil Khush Pani Puri, Ghanshyam Chhole Bhature, Balaji Chhole Bhature, Jai Bajrang Restaurant and Surya Dosa, among others in the Kothariya area.
The department inspected several food outlets at West Gate Complex, including Domino's Pizza, Pizza Hut, Amritsari Haveli, Pizza Galleria and Burgernomics, as well as establishments along the Maldhari Fatak-Sai Baba Circle stretch and other parts of Rajkot.
Separate checks were conducted at seven establishments dealing in analogue dairy products, including Tirth Marketing, Balaji Marketing, Om Food Products, Shiv Shakti Agency, Dariyalal Trading, Patel Agency and Heritage Marketing.
The civic body also highlighted a court conviction arising from a red chilli powder sample collected in 2017. The sample was declared unsafe and substandard after prohibited colour and non-permitted oil were detected.
The Municipal Court sentenced proprietor Manharlal Dayalal Sata to one month's simple imprisonment and a Rs 50,000 fine for the unsafe food offence, with an additional month's imprisonment if the fine was not paid.
A further total fine of Rs 1.5 lakh was ordered for the substandard food and related violations.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good work by the civic body but the punishment seems too lenient. That trader selling adulterated chilli powder for years gets just one month jail and a fine? These people are playing with our health. Should be much harsher - maybe 5 years and heavy fines so others think twice. 🙏
As someone who grew up in the US but visits Gujarat often, this is reassuring to see. Food safety is a serious issue everywhere, and it's good to see the authorities cracking down on adulteration. Though I wonder why it took so long - that 2017 case was only convicted recently. Still, better late than never!
This is a good step, but I see a pattern here - they inspected big chains like Domino's and Pizza Hut but only destroyed food at smaller local joints. Are the corporates getting a free pass? The civic body should be equally strict with all businesses, big or small. Otherwise it looks like they're just picking on the easy targets.
As a home cook who uses these spices daily, this hits close to home. Adding colour to chilli powder and turmeric is like poisoning our families slowly. I'm glad they caught Shrinathji Trading - we need more such surprise raids across Gujarat. Also curious about the "analogue dairy products" - what exactly is that? Need to be careful about these new products in the market. 🧐
Respect to the Rajkot Municipal Corporation for this thorough drive! But I wish they'd publish the list of all outlets they inspected and their findings. Transparency will build more trust. And the Rs
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