15 hrs ago
Kolkata Food-Safety Raids Seize Stale Dairy, Frozen Meat
Kolkata officials are checking shops and restaurants to make sure food is safe.
They visited markets in Bowbazar, Posta and Gariahat.
Some old dairy foods were found and destroyed.
Officials also threw away frozen chicken and mutton that did not have required date labels.
They tested paneer with iodine to look for possible adulteration.
Most of the paneer checked was satisfactory.
Fish, cottage cheese and paneer samples were sent for more testing.
The inspections will continue, and some businesses were asked to correct problems with licences or food storage.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation teams inspected Bowbazar’s Chhana Patti, Posta’s spice market and Gariahat market on Monday.
Officials destroyed about six kilograms of cottage cheese and five kilograms of khoya kheer deemed unfit for consumption.
More than 10 kilograms, or approximately 10–15 kilograms, of unlabeled frozen chicken and mutton was seized and destroyed.
Most paneer samples tested satisfactory, while additional cottage cheese, paneer and fish samples were sent for examination.
The inspections also covered restaurants, mall food courts and food stalls, with notices issued over licensing and other violations.
- Who
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation health, enforcement and food-safety teams, along with the inspected traders, shops and restaurants.
- What
- Officials inspected food businesses, destroyed stale dairy products and unlabeled frozen meat, tested paneer, collected samples and issued notices.
- Where
- Bowbazar’s Chhana Patti, Posta in Burrabazar, Gariahat and other markets, restaurants, mall food courts and food-stall areas in Kolkata and nearby locations.
- When
- The main market raids took place on Monday, September 7; related inspections were conducted on Saturday and Sunday.
- Why
- To enforce food-safety rules, check food quality and storage, prevent unsuitable products from being sold and address licensing and labeling violations.
Officials’ Findings
Traders’ Responses
Paneer disposal and freshness
Officials’ Findings
Officials instructed at least one shop to dispose of paneer and tested samples for possible adulteration.
Traders’ Responses
The traders said the paneer had been purchased recently and was fresh.
Unlabeled food products
Officials’ Findings
Officials said frozen meat without production or packaging dates was unsuitable for sale and questioned traders about missing labels and licences.
Traders’ Responses
A spice trader said raisins without labels came directly from the godown, were sold quickly and could be used for two months.
Enforcement approach
Officials’ Findings
The KMC said raids would continue and that notices had been sent to businesses requiring corrective action.
Traders’ Responses
Businesses affected by the raids were asked to make amendments, but the reports did not provide a broader collective response from traders.
Key facts
- Main market locations
- Bowbazar’s Chhana Patti, Posta’s wholesale spice market and Gariahat market.
- Dairy products destroyed
- Around six kilograms of cottage cheese and five kilograms of khoya kheer were destroyed; officials also reported old khoya, chhana cakes and other dairy products.
- Frozen meat action
- More than 10 kilograms in one report, or approximately 10–15 kilograms in another, of frozen chicken and mutton without production or packaging dates was seized and destroyed.
- Paneer testing
- Officials used iodine solution to check paneer quality and possible adulteration; most tested paneer was reported satisfactory.
- Laboratory samples
- Cottage cheese, paneer and fish samples were collected, with fish samples sealed in the sellers’ presence before being sent for testing.
- Licensing and labeling concerns
- Officials asked businesses to produce food licences and questioned traders over missing FSSAI licences and expiry or manufacturing-date labels.
- Wider inspections
- Teams also inspected mall food courts, restaurants and food stalls in areas including Bentinck Street, Salt Lake, Dacres Lane, Jorabagan and Lake Market.
Quotes
A trader at the Posta wholesale spice market
A trader questioned by officials about raisins lacking manufacturing and expiry dates.
“These come directly from the godown and are sold quickly. These can be used for two months, but they do not have labels.”
telegraphindia.com
A senior KMC official
A senior official of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation discussing continued inspections and notices.
“Our raids will continue. All deviations found during the raids so far have been documented, and we have drawn up a list of shops, eateries and institutions where notices have been sent to make the necessary amendments.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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