FNB News - “Raids focus on areas where food adulteration is prevalent”

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INTERVIEW

“Raids focus on areas where food adulteration is prevalent”

Monday, 07 April, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]

Gujarat State Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) is responsible for efficient & effective implementation of the food & drug administration mission. Dr Hemant Koshia, Commissioner of Gujarat State Food and Drug Control Administration, shares his views on food authority, food safety, FoSCoS, food licence, food business operators and much more in an email interview with Kimberley Almeida. Excerpts:

Describe FDCA’s efforts in monitoring, regulating and enforcing food safety standards.
The Food and Drugs Control Administration of Gujarat plays a crucial role in ensuring food safety within the State. Its efforts in monitoring, regulating, and enforcing food safety standards are multifaceted, aiming to protect public health and maintain food quality.

Ensuring Food Safety is a multi-dimensional approach in which FDCA Gujarat has 360-degree view targeting - Enforcement (b) Training (c) Awareness and IEC Activities.

Here's a breakdown of some main efforts: Regulation of Food Standards; Licensing and Registration; Inspections and Surveillance; Sampling and Testing; Consumer Awareness and Education; Enforcement of Food Safety Laws; Training and Capacity Building; Collaboration with Other Agencies; Eat Right Initiatives for Better and Healthy eating habits.

How does FDCA reflect the administration’s commitment to ensuring all food business comply with safety regulations?
FDCA Gujarat reflects the administration’s commitment to ensuring that all food businesses comply with safety regulations through a combination of proactive measures, rigorous monitoring, enforcement, and consumer education. Here are the key ways the FDCA demonstrates this commitment: Robust Licensing and Registration Process; Regular Inspections and Monitoring; Sampling and Testing of Food Products; Strict Enforcement and Penalties; Awareness Campaigns and Education; Technological Integration for Monitoring and Enforcement; Collaboration with FSSAI and Other Authorities; Prompt Action on Complaints; Encouraging Compliance through Support; Zero Tolerance for Non-compliance.

Tell us about special drives and raids conducted.
FDCA Gujarat conducts special drives and raids with a dual focus: precautionary and enforcement actions to safeguard public health. These measures aim to target and eliminate food safety violations such as adulteration, misbranding, and non-compliance with food standards. Below is a detailed explanation of both dimensions:

Precautionary Basis: Special Drives
Special drives are proactive initiatives aimed at preventing food safety violations before they cause harm. These drives focus on identifying and removing dangerous or adulterated food products from the market. They are conducted in collaboration with various stakeholders, including FSSAI and local authorities, and can be statewide or targeted to specific zones.

Pan India or Zone-Specific Special Drives (FSSAI Collaboration):
FDCA Gujarat participates in special drives initiated by FSSAI. These can be nationwide or region-specific, focusing on addressing common food safety concerns in specific areas.

FSSAI provides guidelines, and FDCA Gujarat implements the drive on the ground, targeting problematic food sectors such as street food, processed foods, and packaged products.

The goal is to ensure uniform compliance with food safety regulations and identify unsafe food products that might pose a risk to public health.

State-Level Targeted Drives (Commodity-Specific Focus):
During specific seasons, festivals, or local events, FDCA Gujarat conducts targeted special drives to monitor food products that are popular or in demand at those times.

For example, during festivals like Diwali or Navratri, when certain food commodities are consumed more (such as sweets, snacks, or oil), special inspections and monitoring are conducted to ensure these products meet safety and quality standards.

Similarly, when seasonal varieties of fruits, vegetables, or grains are being sold, FDCA targets these items to detect adulteration or other safety violations.

Targeting Black Sheep:
A primary goal of these precautionary drives is to identify and act against unscrupulous traders, manufacturers, and food handlers (referred to as "black sheep") who attempt to violate food safety norms for profit.

The drive aims to ensure that food products in the market are safe for consumption, reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Enforcement Basis: Raids
In addition to precautionary measures, FDCA Gujarat also conducts enforcement-based actions such as raids to bust those involved in food adulteration, illegal food practices, and other violations of food safety standards.

Busting Adulteration and Malpractices:
Raids are targeted actions aimed at identifying and arresting perpetrators involved in activities such as food adulteration, mislabelling, unsafe handling, and poor hygiene practices in food establishments.

These raids often focus on areas where food adulteration is prevalent, such as spices, oils, milk, sweets, and other commonly adulterated products. During these raids, FDCA officials collect samples for laboratory testing and inspect production facilities, warehouses, and markets for violations.

Severe Legal Action Against Culprits:
When violations are detected, FDCA takes immediate legal action to penalise those responsible. This includes Seizing and destroying adulterated or unsafe products; Fines, suspension, or cancellation of licences of businesses found guilty of non-compliance. In cases of serious violations, criminal prosecution may be pursued. These enforcement measures send a strong message to food businesses that non-compliance will lead to significant consequences, ensuring that food safety regulations are taken seriously.

Fighting Public Health Threats: The raids are often conducted based on intelligence reports, consumer complaints, or routine surveillance, with the goal of safeguarding public health from the risks posed by unsafe, adulterated, or contaminated food. Raids also serve as a deterrent to those who might consider violating food safety standards, reinforcing the commitment of FDCA Gujarat to protect consumers from harm.

Key Outcomes of These Drives and Raids:

Public Health Protection: By identifying and removing unsafe food products, FDCA prevents foodborne illnesses and ensures consumer safety.
Awareness: Special drives and raids help raise awareness among businesses about the importance of adhering to food safety standards, promoting better industry practices.
Accountability: Both precautionary and enforcement actions hold food businesses accountable for maintaining high standards of hygiene, quality, and safety.
Prevention of Fraudulent Practices: These initiatives help prevent food adulteration, which could harm the health of consumers and tarnish the reputation of the food industry.

Tell us about the FDCA’s mobile units - Food Safety on Wheels.
FDCA, Gujarat, is making significant strides in food safety with its Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) initiative! With 32 mobile food testing units, the state is enhancing food safety through: Testing – On-the-spot detection of food adulteration and contamination using rapid testing instruments.Training – Educating local food business operators (FBOs) and stakeholders on best practices. Awareness – Spreading knowledge among consumers to help them identify safe and unsafe food. These mobile labs are particularly beneficial for remote areas, where access to food testing facilities is limited. Gujarat's extensive implementation of the FSW initiative positions it as a leader in mobile food safety interventions. By ensuring that even remote areas have access to food testing and safety resources, Gujarat sets a commendable example for other states aiming to bolster their food safety frameworks.

Tell us about inspection and sampling conducted by FDCA during festivals.
The FDCA of Gujarat plays a pivotal role in safeguarding public health, especially during festive seasons when the consumption of various food items surges. To combat the prevalent issue of food adulteration during these times, the FDCA intensifies its surveillance and enforcement activities.

Key Initiatives and Actions:
Food Safety Fortnight Campaigns: In October 2024, the FDCA launched a "Food Safety Fortnight" from October 3 to 17. During this period, officials conducted 115 surprise raids across the State, seizing over 226 tonnes of suspected adulterated food products valued at approximately Rs 6.3 crore. Items confiscated included ghee, sweets, edible oils, and dry fruits. Additionally, 8,728 kg of unhygienic produce was destroyed to prevent public consumption.

Targeted Raids on Adulterated Products: Ghee Adulteration: In October 2024, a significant seizure involved 6,825 kg of spurious ghee branded as 'Satvik' from a warehouse in Sanand, valued at over Rs 37 lakh. Chilli Powder Contamination: Around the same time, approximately 700 kg of adulterated chilli powder was confiscated from the Hathikhana wholesale market in Vadodara. Paneer Contamination: In February 2025, a raid at Dwarkesh Dairy Products in Ahmedabad led to the seizure of 1,500 kg of contaminated paneer, underscoring the FDCA's ongoing vigilance.

Educational Outreach and Training: Beyond enforcement, the FDCA emphasises education. During the October 2024 campaign, over 330 meetings were held with food business operators, resulting in 2,500 new licences and registrations. Awareness sessions were conducted in schools and community centres, training over 16,000 traders in food safety practices.

These concerted efforts by the FDCA during festivals aim to ensure that consumers have access to safe and unadulterated food products, thereby upholding public health standards across Gujarat.

Give us details about Eat Right Station.
The "Eat Right Station" certification is an initiative by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, under the "Eat Right India" movement. This certification is awarded to railway stations that adhere to stringent standards of food safety, hygiene, and availability of nutritious food options for passengers. The evaluation process involves rigorous audits of food vendors, training of food handlers, and strict compliance with hygiene and sanitation protocols. As of February 2025, Total 26 Eat Right Stations (i.e., Anand, Rajkot, Gandhidham, Bhuj, Surat, Udhna, Navsari), are certified across Gujarat reflecting the state's commitment to ensuring safe and wholesome food for travellers.

Give us information about Eat Right Campus.
The "Eat Right Campus" initiative, spearheaded by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, aims to foster safe, healthy, and sustainable food environments across various institutional settings, including universities, colleges, workplaces, hospitals, and other campuses. The programme evaluates campuses based on stringent criteria encompassing food safety measures, the availability of nutritious and environmentally sustainable food options, and awareness-building among campus residents to encourage informed food choices. As of February 2025, Gujarat has demonstrated commendable participation in the "Eat Right Campus" initiative, with several institutions achieving certification.

Notable certified campuses in the state include: Deepkiran Foods Private Limited, Gandhinagar; Rai University, Ahmedabad; Sodexo India Services Private Limited, Ahmedabad; Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ahmedabad; Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA), Ahmedabad; Sun Caterers, Gujarat; and Mazdaa Caterers, Gujarat.

These certifications reflect Gujarat's commitment to promoting food safety and healthy eating practices within institutional environments.

Additionally, the state has undertaken initiatives to extend the "Eat Right Campus" standards to correctional facilities. In October 2020, directives were issued for kitchens and canteens in jails across Gujarat to align with FSSAI standards, aiming to secure "Eat Right Campus" certifications for these institutions.

Tell us about the licensing and registration drive in Gujarat.
FDCA, Gujarat, organises Licensing and Registration drives in respective district from time to time with the help of Food Safety on Wheels. Last year, FSSAI, New Delhi, had launched Tatkal Licence and Registration facility in FoSCoS itself which helps FBOs belong to specific KoBs such as Retailer, Transporter, Storage without Atmospheric Controller, Food Vending Agencies, Petty Retailers of snacks/tea shops, Hawker, Direct Seller, Importer, Exporter, Wholesaler, Distributor dealing with low-risk food items. Using this facility, FBOs can instantly avail their Licence/Registration by just filling their application and submitting fees online. In this Tatkal Licence/Registration event launch, Gujarat had participated as a model state and during the event in 1 hour more than 250 Licence/Registrations generated.

Under FoSTaC, how many vendors are being trained and what is the current scenario?
The Food Safety Training and Certification programme, initiated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, aims to enhance food safety and hygiene across the country. In Gujarat, this initiative has been actively embraced, with several empanelled training partners offering comprehensive courses to food business operators (FBOs) and individuals aspiring to enter the food industry.

In third quarter, more than 5,000 Food Business Operators are trained for FoSTaC training and it is continued throughout the year. Aiming to 1 lakh street food vendors FDCA, Gujarat, also going to conduct FoSTaC trainings for 1 lakh street food vendors as per instructions and support from FSSAI.