1 hr ago
FSSAI Suspends Two Food Firms Over Serious Safety Violations
India’s food safety regulator inspected two food companies after finding serious problems.
The companies were TCF Chocolates and Gifts and Shivam Agro.
TCF was inspected after a customer complaint about an online food order.
Inspectors found pests, cat droppings, poor cleaning and expired food colours and flavours there.
Shivam Agro had flies, garbage, sewage water, rodent activity and corroded equipment.
Inspectors also found that both companies had problems with food labels.
The regulator said Shivam Agro did not have proper testing records or a working in-house laboratory.
Because of these issues, both companies must stop operating until their licences are restored.
FSSAI suspended the licences of TCF Chocolates and Gifts and Shivam Agro with immediate effect.
An inspection of TCF followed a consumer complaint about food ordered through an e-commerce platform.
Inspectors found pest infestations, poor sanitation, expired ingredients and unsafe chemical storage at TCF.
Shivam Agro had flies, sewage water, rodents, corroded equipment and improper food storage.
Both companies were ordered to stop all food business activities during the suspension period.
- Who
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, TCF Chocolates and Gifts, and Shivam Agro.
- What
- FSSAI suspended the licences of both food companies after inspections found serious hygiene, safety, storage, equipment, testing and labelling violations.
- Where
- At the facilities of TCF Chocolates and Gifts and Shivam Agro in India; the report identifies New Delhi as the dateline.
- When
- The suspensions were announced on Thursday and took effect immediately.
- Why
- Inspectors found conditions that could create contamination and other food-safety risks.
Key facts
- Regulator
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Affected companies
- TCF Chocolates and Gifts and Shivam Agro
- Action
- Both food-business licences were suspended with immediate effect
- TCF compliance score
- 14 per cent during a previous inspection
- TCF findings
- Poor sanitation, pest infestation, cat droppings, uncovered drainage, expired food colours and flavours, and unsafe chemical storage
- Shivam Agro findings
- Flies, garbage, stagnant sewage water, spider and rodent activity, corroded equipment, and improper storage
- Additional violations
- Both companies had labelling deficiencies; Shivam Agro also lacked a functional in-house laboratory and finished-product testing records
Quotes
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
India’s food-safety regulator that conducted the inspections and ordered the suspensions
“The licences of FBOs Shivam Agro and TCF Chocolates & Gifts Private Limited have been suspended with immediate effect following serious food safety violations identified during inspection.”
thehansindia.com










