Buy sweets only from licensed shops: FDA to consumers

As the festive season nears, the Food Drug and Administration (FDA) department of the state government has urged the consumers to buy sweets only from licensed shops.

As the festive season nears, the Food Drug and Administration (FDA) department of the state government has urged the consumers to buy sweets only from licensed shops.

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Ghewarsingh H Rathod, joint commissioner, FDA, said: “It is mandatory for shop owners to display the licence obtained under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, 1954, FDA’s Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, and rules issued by the local authorities.”

If not displayed, consumers can ask the shop owner to show the licence. “Buying food from licensed shops is safe as the FDA conducts regular inspections at such shops,” said PR Uttarwar, joint commissioner (headquarters) and controlling agency.

The department will also inspect wholesale shops, warehouses and cold storages where the ingredients to prepare the products are stocked and sold. “We will try to check adulteration at the primary level itself. Cold storages of mawa, storehouses of rawa, maida and oil would be checked to ensure that adulterated ingredients don’t reach the retail market,” said Rathod.

Shops should obtain a licecnce under Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006. Those who don’t possess a licence, would be prosecuted under the said act. The department held a meeting with major sweet manufactures. “We asked them to take necessary safety precautions,” he added.