Food firms fined Rs 4 lakh for violating FSSAI norms
In a significant move, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) LR Verma of Sirmaur has fined several food companies a total of Rs 4 lakh for failing to meet the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The ADM’s court resolved 28 cases concerning substandard food samples collected from across the district, with companies from Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Haryana facing penalties.
The district’s food safety department collected various food product samples over the past few months which, when tested, failed to meet the FSSAI standards. Between July and September, the court processed 28 cases, resulting in significant fines.
Among the penalised companies was one from Maharashtra that was fined Rs 50,000 for non-compliance with safety standards, while a Delhi-based company was fined Rs 30,000 for poor-quality tomato puree. A Haryana-based company was also fined Rs 35,000 for issues related to mustard oil. Additional products such as milk, paneer, ghee, mushrooms, tea leaves, besan, semolina, and mustard oil also failed safety checks, leading to fines for various companies.
The fines were imposed under Sections 51 and 52 of the FSSAI Act, addressing safety and quality violations. With the ongoing festival season, the district’s Food Safety Department has ramped up vigilance, especially around the sale of sweets and other food items. Regular sampling is being conducted to ensure compliance with food safety regulations.
In addition to sampling, a mobile food testing van has been deployed across Sirmaur to perform spot checks. A Food Safety official confirmed the resolution of 28 cases and emphasised the department’s heightened alertness during the festive season to protect public health. The official reiterated: “We will not tolerate any compromise with the health of the people.”
