Food and Drug Administration officials have collected as many as 32 samples of powdered milkshake packets after customer complains of possible adulteration
Acting on a tip-off, officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) department on Monday raided an exhibition in the city and collected samples of milkshake powder packets after a visitor had observed that the name on the outside of the packet was different from the sachet inside. FDA officials have sent the confiscated packets to a laboratory for testing.
Shaken up: An FDA official inspects the seized milkshake packet, which was later sent to the laboratory for testing
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“The product named ‘Joy Drink’ milk shake mix was being sold at a counter during the exhibition. A vigilant visitor observed the disparity in the inner and outer wrapping and contacted us,” Shivaji Desai, assistant food commissioner, FDA (Food). A team of Food safety officers (FSO) was then dispatched to the exhibition, which was being held at the Deccan Road area.
Sayali Patwardhan, FSO, who collected the sample, said, “There were a total of 32 packets, each weighing 100 gms. Of these, 16 packets were of cold coffee flavour, while the remaining were Kesar Pista flavour sachets. We noticed that the product carton was not sealed, and when we opened the pack, the packet inside had a different name from what was displayed on the outer packaging. As per the rule, the outer package must be the same as the inner one or vice versa.”
According to FDA officials, the outer package had the name of a Delhi-based company called ‘PB Foods’. “We have passed on the information to a designated FDA officer based in Delhi. The officer will visit the company and collect samples. If there is any discrepancy, action will be taken accordingly,” Patwardhan added.
FDA officials said that the person selling the product was a Delhi resident, and had purchased the merchandise from the company itself. “When we asked for the bill of purchase, he could not furnish one, which is another notable concern in this case,” said Patwardhan.
File returns by May 31
The FDA has informed all licence holders to file their returns with them before May 31 as mentioned in the Food Safety and Standards Act. “Licence holders have to file their returns (materials purchased and sold during the year) by May 31 by filing Form D1 or else risk having to pay Rs 100 per day. If the licence holder is milk and dairy product seller, then he has to file returns twice a year by filling Form D2,” said Dilip Sangat, joint commissioner, FDA (Food).u00a0
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