No plan to ban spices of MDH, Everest: Joint Comm
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 18 2024:
Even though spices products of Indian brands like MDH and Everest have been banned in Hong Kong, Singapore and Nepal following detection of harmful Ethylene Oxide, a carcinogenic substance, there is no plan to prohibit the products in the state as there is no such instruction from the higher authority, said joint commissioner of food safety, medical directorate, Dr S Rajen.
Talking to some media persons at the directorate's office, here, on Tuesday, Dr Rajen informed that as per guidelines of the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), state food safety authorities are allowed to test products manufactured in their respective states only.
As such, the spices products of MDH and Everest are to be tested by the food safety authorities of their respective states.
As of now, there is no instruction from FSSAI to ban sale and consumption of MDH and Everest spices products.
In case the relevant food safety authorities bring out the finding of such adulteration, the state authority can impose the ban, he added.
Regarding the viral video of floodwater-soaked sugar being used in a hotel in making snacks, a team of food safety authority inspected the hotel in Mantripukhri.
The authority is thankful to the local clubs for taking the initiative of inspecting the matter and reporting the same.
Upon inspection, the team found the hotel producing snacks in an unhygienic way.
Consequently, the authority has initiated necessary legal actions against the hotel owner, he said.
Imphal East food safety designated officer Dr Laikhu-ram Kripriyalini said that all the street food vendors near ISBT, Khuman Lampak, and Leishang Hiden bank near Manipur University have been made to get food safety license.
They are monitoring the food stalls from time to time and strong instructions are issued from time to time to ensure hygienic practices, she added.
She urged consumers to raise complaint with the food safety authorities if they suspected food adulteration or came across unhygienic ways in food stalls.
One can download Food Connect app and lodge the complaint from the app, she said and added that officials will immediately visit such stalls once they receive the complaint.
The two officers further asked shop owners not to sell floodwater-soaked products, and also urged the public not to buy such products if they came across.
Citing a joint disposal initiative of floodwater-soaked products of a store called Family Shopee at Dewlaland with food safety officials, the officers directed the shop owners to consult the food safety authority before disposing such floodwater-soaked products, adding that they will issue relevant certificates for such disposal.