Expired, Mislabelled Food Worth Rs 1.38 Cr Seized in Bengaluru
The inspections were conducted by the Food Safety and Drugs Administration following the directives of Health Minister U T Khader under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, they said
Bengaluru: Food safety officials seized expired and mislabelled food worth Rs 1.38 crore and medicines worth around Rs 4 lakh during inspections of dark stores and storage facilities of online delivery platforms in Bengaluru, officials said on Monday.
The inspections were conducted by the Food Safety and Drugs Administration following the directives of Health Minister U T Khader under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, they said.
Officials checked food products sold through online and e-commerce platforms for compliance with mandatory labelling requirements such as the date of manufacture, expiry date and shelf life, as well as other food safety standards.
They checked whether medicines were being stored without the required licences, officials said.
According to a statement issued by the department, 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, which were allegedly being stored without a licence, were also seized from the facility, it said.
At Amazon's BLR7 facility in Anekal taluk, food products worth Rs 19 lakh with incorrect or inadequate labelling and expired food products worth Rs 13 lakh were seized. Medicines worth Rs 1.57 lakh stored without a licence were also seized.
The department said it detected expired food products at Saptha Bazaar in HBR Layout 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.
"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 of the establishment told officials that food products worth approximately Rs 56 lakh were stored at the premises. The premises were subsequently sealed, officials said.
"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 in view of unhygienic conditions and violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act and applicable rules, he said.
The department said that, in total, food products with incorrect or inadequate labelling worth Rs 33 lakh and expired or near-expiry food products worth Rs 1.05 crore had been seized during the operation, 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 seized as well, it said.
The department said the investigation at the Instamart facility was continuing, with expired and mislabelled products valued at around Rs 1 crore being examined.
