Archive · 10 Aug 2026
FSSAI Suspends Licences of VKC Nuts, Chheda Specialities Over Safety
In India, there is a group called the FSSAI whose job is to make sure the food we eat is safe and clean.
The group visits factories where food is made to check that everything is hygienic.
Recently, it checked two food factories and found some very unpleasant problems.
At one factory, inspectors found bugs living inside bags of pistachios.
They also found mouse droppings and mold growing on food.
At the other factory, workers were mixing dough with their bare hands right next to smelly garbage.
There was also mold near oil tanks and water leaking from the roof.
Because of these problems, the factories got very low safety scores.
The factories are not allowed to make food until they fix everything.
They must clean up and prove they follow the rules before they can start working again.
FSSAI suspended the licences of VKC Nuts Private Ltd and Chheda Specialities Foods Pvt Ltd with immediate effect over serious food safety and hygiene violations.
At VKC Nuts in Uttar Pradesh, inspectors found live insects in pistachios, extensive mould and fungal growth, rodent droppings, and signs of pest damage to stored food products.
VKC Nuts recorded a 38 per cent compliance score, with expired cranberry stock and raw material cartons lacking batch numbers and manufacturing or expiry details found on site.
At Chheda Specialities in Maharashtra, workers were found mixing besan dough with bare hands and handling food near decomposing waste, alongside fungal growth, roof leakages, stagnant water, and damaged flooring.
Chheda Specialities scored 42 per cent compliance, and its licence remains suspended until it completes corrective measures including sanitation, pest control, waste management, infrastructure maintenance, and staff training.
- Who
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), along with the companies VKC Nuts Private Ltd and Chheda Specialities Foods Pvt Ltd.
- What
- FSSAI suspended the licences of the two food companies with immediate effect for serious food safety and hygiene violations found during inspections.
- When
- On Saturday, when the regulator announced the action on social media platform X.
- Where
- At VKC Nuts in Uttar Pradesh and Chheda Specialities Foods in Maharashtra; the announcement was made in New Delhi.
- Why
- Inspections found live insects, mould, rodent droppings, unhygienic food handling, and low compliance scores, which FSSAI said could pose a grave risk to public health.
- Regulator
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Companies affected
- VKC Nuts Private Ltd, Chheda Specialities Foods Pvt Ltd
- VKC Nuts location
- Uttar Pradesh
- Chheda Specialities location
- Maharashtra
- VKC Nuts compliance score
- 38 per cent
- Chheda Specialities compliance score
- 42 per cent
- Legal basis
- FSS Act, 2006
- Announcement platform
- Social media platform X
