Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 26: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has suspended the licence of Westend Agro Products Pvt Ltd with immediate effect after detecting serious violations, including alteration of manufacturing and expiry dates on several food products during an inspection.
According to the food regulator, the action followed a complaint alleging alteration of manufacturing and packing dates, fraudulent re-labelling and sale of misbranded food products at the company's premises.
During the inspection, FSSAI found that Westend Agro Products Pvt Ltd and Westend Corporation were operating from the same premises. Officials discovered several food products bearing altered manufacturing dates, expiry dates, batch numbers and misleading label declarations.
The inspection also led to the seizure of printing machinery, stamps, solvents and other materials allegedly used to tamper with mandatory food label information. Packaging materials, labels and printed wrappers carrying misleading declarations, including false "organic" claims, were also recovered.
FSSAI observed that the deliberate forgery and alteration of mandatory labelling information, along with the sale of food carrying false or misleading labels, posed a direct threat to consumer safety and public health. The regulator stated that the products were prima facie considered unsafe.
As a result, the State FSSAI licence of Westend Agro Products Pvt Ltd has been suspended with immediate effect.
The action comes amid a series of enforcement measures by the food regulator. On Saturday, FSSAI imposed a penalty on Sopan Restaurant for serving sub-standard food in the pantry car of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express.
The penalty followed an adjudication order based on the analysis of a sample of Nova Flavoured Double Toned Milk collected from Pantry Car No. 15904 of the train operated by Sopan Restaurant.
Earlier this week, FSSAI also suspended the licence of Punjab-based Rehaan Healthcare after finding serious violations at its health supplements and nutraceutical manufacturing unit. The company, which manufactures digestive syrup, multivitamin syrup and other syrup-based food products, has been directed to halt production until all deficiencies are rectified and verified by the competent authority.
In recent months, FSSAI has intensified its crackdown on food business operators, taking action against several energy drink and alcoholic beverage companies for misleading claims and labelling violations. The regulator has also issued notices to multiple e-commerce platforms.
FSSAI said these enforcement actions were initiated based on consumer complaints, suo motu cognisance and routine inspections conducted by food safety officers. The regulator has also been sharing details of such actions through its official social media platforms, including Instagram.