Illicit package drinking water laid bare
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 18 2019:
Food Safety Authority of Manipur seized a large number of Marina Spring packaged drinking water (500 ml) for containing suspended particles as well as 20 litre jars of Kangla Water which did had wrong manufacturing dates and FSSAI license number.
Displaying the seized items before media persons at the Directorate of Health office at Lamphel today, Additional Food Safety Commissioner, Manipur, as well as Health and Family Welfare Director Dr K Rajo said that acting on reliable information, officials of Food Safety Authority went to the factory of Marina Packaged drinking water at Bishnupur yesterday and seized the 500 ml bottles for containing suspended particles.
The officials also inspected the factory laboratory, containers used as well as the process of producing the packaged drinking water and also advised the authority concerned of the factory.
Rajo continued that consumption of water with suspended particles can lead to many health problems and appealed to the public to check their packaged drinking water properly by tilting it up and down so as to check for the presence of any impurities.
All the necessary labels on the bottles should be properly checked as well, he recommended, appealing to all to inform the Designated Officer of the respective distinct or an official of the Food Safety if they come across any such instances.
Speaking to media persons, Designated Officer of the Health Directorate, Tekcham Brojendro Khaba Meitei said that samples of the packaged drinking water bottles seized yesterday will be sent to laboratories, both inside and outside the State, to ascertain the identity of the particles present inside.
The batch numbers of Marina Spring water bottles, which were packed on May 23, are 2368, 2376, 2377, 2380, 2381, 2382, 2383, 2385 and 2390, he explained, appealing to the public not to buy any of the water bottles from the company bearing the said batch numbers.
On the other hand, he said that the 20 litre water jars of Kangla Water, were found mentioning the packaging date as September 24, 2019 (which is yet to come), even though they were manufactured before August 25.During investigation, it was found that Lamjingba Group handled Kangla Water packaged drinking water, which was processed by M/S Lairikyengbam Enterprises, Maiba Khul Mamang Leikai, Imphal East.
And for manufacturing processes, the packaged drinking water used FSSAI license number 11616007000001 issued by Thoubal Designated Officer.
However, this license was issued for manufacturing process only in Thoubal district.
M/S Lairikyengbam Enterprises, Maiba Khul Mamang Leikai, Imphal East produces Yes Drinking Water and this is only for Thoubal, Brojendro said explaining that no FSSAI license was issued nor was any registration done for Kangla Water.
As per the rules and regulations of Food Safety, a FSSAI license issued for a particular district cannot be utilised in another, he said, announcing that the whole process of Kangla Water is a malpractice.
Informing that a case each will be filed to the respective Adjudicating Officers to take necessary actions against Marina Spring packaged drinking water and Kangla Water, Brojendro said.