Northern regional office of FSSAI cracks down on FBO in Delhi for fraudulent re-labelling and substandard storage; over 50,000 pieces seized, FIR registered
New Delhi, July 4
The Northern Regional Office of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has uncovered fraudulent re-labelling of food products and unauthorised storage of food and non-food items during an enforcement action in South-West Delhi.
Inspection was conducted on Friday in response to intelligence received regarding the violations at Westend Corporation Pvt. Ltd., situated in the Okhla Industrial Area.
The action was taken under the supervision of the Director, FSSAI-NRO, pursuant to a critical telephonic communication alerting the authorities about illegal activities involving the systematic removal and re-printing of food product label information by the said operator.
During the joint enforcement operation, Central Food Safety Officers (CFSOs) observed that the FBO was engaged in the unauthorised storage of various food and non-food items spanning multiple brands. Several food products were allegedly found bearing forged manufacturing dates, expiry dates, batch numbers, and altered label information.
The inspection team also recovered stamps, chemical solvents, and printing machinery from the premises, which were being used to facilitate the alteration and counterfeiting of product labels.
Taking swift enforcement action in the interest of protecting public health, the local police seized more than 50,000 compromised food packs found at the premises. Consequently, a complaint has been formally registered against the Food Business Operator for fraudulent practices and criminal tampering.
FSSAI maintains a zero-tolerance policy against food adulteration, misbranding, and fraudulent practices that jeopardise consumer health. Strict administrative and legal proceedings under the provisions of the FSS Act, 2006, along with relevant sections of the law, shall be pursued against the violators.
FSSAI appeals to the general public to report any encounter of counterfeit brands and suspicious products to FSSAI through the Mobile App: Food Safety Connect Application (available on Android and iOS) or Online Portal: FoSCoS Grievance Redressal Platform (foscos.fssai.gov.in).
FSSAI remains committed to protecting public health and towards taking appropriate action against any violations, in accordance with the provisions of the existing regulations.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good that they caught them but how many such places are still operating? We need regular inspections, not just when someone tips them off. And the fine should be so heavy that it becomes a deterrent for others.
This is why I only buy from trusted brands and check dates before purchasing. But many people in India can't afford to be that choosy. The government should make the supply chain more transparent so consumers know exactly what they're getting.
Good job by FSSAI team but what about the big brands whose products were being tampered? They should also be held accountable for not securing their supply chain. And those solvents and chemicals used to alter labels - scary stuff man. Imagine eating that food! 😱
I appreciate the swift action but this seems like just the tip of the iceberg. In a city like Delhi with so many warehouses and godowns, there must be hundreds of such operations running undetected. Need more surveillance and maybe surprise checks at distribution points.
This is why I've started ordering directly from company websites or verified Amazon sellers. But even then you never know. Hope FIR leads to conviction and heavy punishment - people who mess with food safety should face strict consequences. Bacchon ki jaan hai ye. 🙏
R We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.