Rotten canned fish
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 23 2013 : Sustaining its campaign against sale of sub-standard consumer items, personnel of Food Safety and Standards Wing today impounded rotten canned fish labelled Sea Cherry Mackerels from an agent today.

The said canned fish were seized from the Wahengbam Leikai storage facility of Y Krishna Singh & Sons with the agent said to be one Yengkhom Jenchandra Singh (43) s/o (L) Y Tombi of Wahengbam Leikai.

In his explanation, Jenchandra said the agency started to recollect the particular brand of canned fish following intimations from retail sellers about a number of individual consumers complaining that the contents were foul smelling.

Informing that the recollected canned fish were those distributed to the retailers in between September and October, 2012 and revealing the manufacturer as Sowkar Canning Co, Udyavara in Karnataka State, he said that in all 500 cartons each containing 36 pieces could be collected.

Claiming that the manufacturer was informed on the matter resulting in the arrival of a company representative to confirm the case, Jenchandra further maintained that Food Safety officials were already informed about the complaints from the consumers.

The items were seized during a joint drive launched by the Designated Officer (Food Safety) CMO (Imphal West) S Bimolakumari, Imphal West Food Safety Officer Y Seityajit (FSO Churachandpur) Sunilkumar and City Police OC.

According to Y Seityajit today's drive was specifically carried out based on information about the agency storing the canned fish brand which was already banned on March 25, 2013 for non-compliance to labelling rules and regulations.

Urging the general public to contact the Food Safety and Standards Wing if they have any information about sale of the said item, he also affirmed that appropriate action under the Food safety Act would be initiated against the agent.

Along with informing that the impounded rotten items would be disposed off after consulting department concerned, Seityajit said similar raids would be conducted to seize adulterated food items as well as other products that pose threat to the consumers.

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