Port Blair, Feb 11: The officials of the Food Safety Department conducted surprise inspection of food business premises located at Bambooflat, Wimberly Gunj, Garacharma, Prem Nagar and Aberdeen Bazaar and seized huge quantities of banned half litre and one litre packaged drinking water in plastic bottles. Date of packing/best before, batch No., etc. were not mentioned in the bottles for the information of customers which is clear cut violation of Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labeling) Regulations, 2011.

Cases have been registered against the offenders under relevant sections of law and the license of the packaged drinking water manufacturing unit has been suspended with immediate effect.

Further, through the Mobile Food Testing Laboratory a training programme was organized at Dolly Gunj Industrial Estate for the manufacturers/food processors, wherein the Food Business Operators (FBO) were sensitized about Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Hygienic Practices and guidelines on packaging and labeling of food packets. About 32 Nos. of Food Business Operators/workers attended the training programme.

The Commissioner of Food Safety, A&N Islands/Dy. Commissioner, South Andaman has directed all the FBOs to maintain highest level of sanitary and hygienic conditions in their respective premises. The general public may lodge any complaint or grievance on toll free No. 1077 or 03192236168