FSSAI suspends bakery licence, orders Everest cumin powder recall

Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 4: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Sunday suspended the licence of a West Bengal-based bakery manufacturer over serious hygiene violations and directed Everest Food Products Private Limited to recall a batch of cumin powder after pesticide residues were found above permissible limits.

In a statement, the food regulator said the licence of Creative Bakers and Confectioners Private Limited had been suspended with immediate effect following an inspection that found multiple food safety and hygiene violations at its manufacturing facility.

“FSSAI licence of Creative Bakers and Confectioners Private Limited has been suspended with immediate effect due to severe hygiene deficiencies,” it said.

According to FSSAI, inspectors found dirt, grease, dust, cobwebs and flies in food production and handling areas. Perishable raw materials were being stored in open conditions, while rusted and inadequately cleaned containers were being used to store raw materials and semi-finished products.

Waste material, old stock, rejected lots and scrap were also found accumulated in food-handling areas. The inspection team further noted rusting equipment, peeling paint, damp conditions and damaged floor tiles at the premises.

FSSAI said the company had also failed to properly maintain several mandatory food safety records and monitoring systems, including water and finished-product testing records, temperature-monitoring logs, equipment calibration data, preventive maintenance records, mock recall documentation, consumer complaint registers, training records and audit reports.

Following the inspection findings, the regulator directed the food business operator to immediately stop all food-related activities during the licence suspension period.

In a separate enforcement action, FSSAI ordered Everest Food Products Pvt Ltd to recall a batch of its pre-packed cumin powder after laboratory testing detected pesticide residues above the prescribed maximum limits.

The regulator said a sample drawn from the premises of Riverside Resorts & Holiday Homes in Goa was tested and declared “unsafe” by a food analyst under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

“The Food Analyst's report found pesticide residues of Azoxystrobin and Thiamethoxam at levels exceeding the prescribed maximum limits,” FSSAI said.