FSSAI starts prosecution of Priyagold maker, Dodla Dairy and UEIR Organic Foods

What FSSAI announced

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said on Saturday, October 17, that it had initiated legal proceedings for prosecution against three food businesses, Surya Food & Agro (the maker of Priyagold biscuits), Dodla Dairy and UEIR Organic Foods, after non-compliance was found during sampling and inspections, according to a PTI report carried by Mathrubhumi. Business Today says the authority sanctioned prosecution. The findings below are FSSAI's, as reported.

Surya Food & Agro (Priyagold)

FSSAI said an inspection prompted by a consumer complaint found that bran meant for cattle feed, not for human consumption, was used as a fibre source in biscuit manufacturing, according to Mathrubhumi. Inspectors noted that the gunny bags storing the bran were labelled for animal feed. The regulator also flagged lapses in plant sanitation, pest control, storage and segregation of raw materials, worker hygiene, premises maintenance and handling of intermediate formulations.

Mathrubhumi reports that FSSAI suspended the company's operating licence before filing prosecution charges, citing the severity of the violations. Scroll says the suspension was announced on Saturday. The three articles read carry no statement from the company.

Dodla Dairy

According to Mathrubhumi, a regulatory sample of the company's full cream milk was first declared substandard for failing mandatory milk fat parameters. Dodla Dairy appealed, and the sample was sent to a Referral Food Laboratory, which, FSSAI said, found it unsafe because of detergent or caustic soda and substandard because milk fat was below the minimum. The competent authority concluded that industrial cleaning agents posed a clear health hazard under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and sanctioned prosecution against the company and associated entities linked to the batch. The only company action reported is its appeal against the first finding.

UEIR Organic Foods

Business Today reports that a sample of the firm's organic yellow raisins was declared unsafe after a referral laboratory found residues of the pesticides thiamethoxam and fluopyram metabolites above permitted limits. Mathrubhumi describes the finding as illegal pesticide residues found in routine laboratory checks.

Other notices

Business Today also reports that FSSAI issued notices to Narpadham Foods, Sun Ridges Health Carers and M/s Sha Kantilal Jayantilal over food safety, hygiene, storage and licensing compliance concerns. Scroll places the actions within a recent regulatory crackdown on food adulteration and misleading advertisements.

What is still open

Prosecution here means legal proceedings have begun; none of the reports read describes any court finding. Mathrubhumi says further legal steps are under way against all three companies. Business Today reports that Surya Food & Agro had not responded to the action at the time of its article, and Mathrubhumi reports no company response for any of the three.