BENGALURU: Food safety officials in Bengaluru seized expired and incorrectly labelled food products worth Rs 1.38 crore and medicines worth around Rs 4 lakh during inspections of dark stores and storage facilities operated by online delivery platforms, officials said on Monday.The inspections were carried out by the Food Safety and Drugs Administration following directions from Health Minister U T Khader under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Amazon facilities among those inspected
Officials checked food products sold through online and e-commerce platforms for mandatory labelling details, including the date of manufacture, expiry date and shelf life, as well as compliance with other food safety standards.They also checked whether medicines were being stored without the required licences, officials said.At Amazon’s BLR6 facility at Hitech Defence and Aerospace Park in Devanahalli, food products worth Rs 14 lakh with incorrect or inadequate labelling and expired food products worth Rs 10 lakh were seized.Drugs worth Rs 2,45,352, allegedly stored without a licence, were also seized from the facility, the department said.At Amazon’s BLR7 facility in Anekal taluk, officials seized food products worth Rs 19 lakh with incorrect or inadequate labelling and expired food products worth Rs 13 lakh.Medicines worth another Rs 1.57 lakh that were allegedly stored without a licence were also seized.
Expired food found at Bengaluru store
The department also detected expired food products at Saptha Bazaar in HBR Layou following a complaint that the establishment was purchasing groceries, milk, vegetables, curd and other food products from online delivery agencies and reselling expired items.Food Safety Officers seized expired products including cashew biscuits, ragi flour, chicken patties, paneer, cookies, nuts, eggs and flour worth around Rs 10,000, it said.
Lingarajapuram facility sealed
At Leo 7 Enterprises in Lingarajapuram, officials found various food products, including nutritional products, beverages, chocolates, sweets, ghee and nuts and seeds, that were either expired or nearing expiry, Food Safety and Drugs Administration commissioner Srinivas K said.“During the inspection conducted at Leo 7 Enterprises, located in Lingarajapuram, Bengaluru, it was found that various food products, including nutritional products, beverages, chocolates, sweets, ghee and nuts and seeds, which were either expired or nearing expiry, were being stored,” Srinivas K, Commissioner of Food Safety and Drugs Administration, said in the statement.The owner told officials that food products worth approximately Rs 56 lakh were stored at the premises. The facility was subsequently sealed, officials said.
Instamart facility shut over violations
At an Instamart facility in Hoskote, Bengaluru Rural district, officials seized expired food products worth Rs 42 lakh.“During the inspection of the Instamart facility located in Hoskote, Bengaluru Rural district, expired food products worth Rs 42 lakh were seized,” he said.The facility was closed after officials found unhygienic conditions and violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act and applicable rules, he said.
Rs 1.38 crore food products seized
The department said that, in all, food products with incorrect or inadequate labelling worth Rs 33 lakh and expired or near-expiry food products worth Rs 1.05 crore were seized, taking the total value of seized food products to Rs 1.38 crore.Medicines stored without licences and valued at Rs 4.02 lakh were also seized, it said.The investigation at the Instamart facility is continuing, with expired and mislabelled products valued at around Rs 1 crore being examined, the department said.(With PTI inputs)
