On June 20, inspection teams of the Commissioner of Food Safety, Telangana state, carried out inspections in pickle manufacturing units located on the periphery of Hyderabad and found a number of hygiene violations.
At IDA Moula Ali’s DB Joshi Masala Manufacturing Company, the teams seized 30 kg of Flower Brand Tamarind as well as 300 kgs packed cumin seeds without proper label declarations. The officials also discarded expired rice flour used in papad manufacturing. The FBO lacked medical fitness certificates for food handlers even though every fifteen days pest control was done according to available records. The FSSAI licence true copy was displayed and windows were fitted with insect-proof screens; doors were close-fitted to stop pests from entering according to a release from the food safety team.
In addition at IDA Cherlapally’s VRV Foods, it was discovered by the groups that there is no water analysis report for RO water used as an ingredient. The manufacturing premises had some rusted parts of their packaging machinery while house flies could be seen inside them too. They were not having insect proof screen; others did not have aprons and head gears on them. Besides, they did not avail themselves of food handler’s medical fitness certificates and pest control records. However, there was FSSAI licence true copy displayed at office level and supervisor has Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) certificate with him. A NABL accredited laboratory conducted analysis report for the food articles manufactured.
After inspecting Ramabai Joshi Industries in IDA Moula Ali it was revealed that they don’t have medical fitness certificates meant for food handlers. There were windows which lacked insect-proof screens plus ventilators too. Further, semi-prepared pickles stored in plastic barrels had no use-by or expiry date labels while the renewed FSSAI licence copy was not exhibited anywhere else within its premises hence violating another condition set by the authority. The passageway leading to the garlic peeling area had a broken floor with holes meaning there may be rats. However, food handlers were on protective headgear and aprons while pest control was done every 15 days as the records suggest.
