Sea Cherry Mackerels Sowkar banned in state
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 03 2013:
The State Government has banned selling of Sea Cherry Mackerels Sowkar (In Brine) manufactured by M/s Sowkar Canning Company, Udyavara, which is being marketed in the state by its sole agent at Imphal, M/s Y Krishna Singh & Sons, Wahengbam Leikai.
According to an official order issued by Commissioner of Food Safety Ram Muivah, who is also the Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, on March 25, 2013, selling of the specific tin fish product has been banned in the whole state with immediate effect after finding it unsafe for human consumption.
The order mentioned that the particular brand of food was found rotten and unfit for human consumption as it contained high percentage of yeast and mould.
As it violates regulation no.2.6.1 (8) (Note II) (Fish & Fish Products) of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards & Food Additives) regulations, 2011, the order said that the food item in question is unsafe and sub-standard under Section 3(1) (ZX) & (ZZ)(i)(ii) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 .
The order further mentioned that the food item does not follow the mandatory regulations of Lot/Code/Batch indentification as given under Regulation no.2.2.1 (8) (General Requirement of Labelling) under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 .
Citing the above reasons, the order restricted selling of the Sea Cherry Mackerels Sowkar (In Brine) food item in the state with immediate effect and until further order in the interest of public health under the provisions of Section 23 & 27 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 .
The order further explained that violation of the order is liable to be punished as per the law of the land.
Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao in this regard, Deputy Food Safety Commissioner Tekcham Brojendro Khaba Meetei said that seizure of the particular food product started from January 17 after it was found being sold in violation of the norms of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.The seized products were sent to a notified laboratory under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on January 22 for necessary testing.
The laboratory, in its report on February 9, stated that the particular food product is unsafe for human consumption and it contain high percentage of yeast and mould.
Following the report, selling of the particular food product has been banned in the whole state.
He also appealed to the people of the state to report to the District Food Safety Officer, Designated Officers of Food Safety or Deputy Food Safety Officer at the Directorate of Health Services if they found anything suspicious in the food products available in the market.
Instead of discarding the unsafe food products, public should brought them to the authorities concerned for further necessary action, the officer informed.
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