43.5-kg of spicy munchies, 32-kg of misbranded khova seized 

Mysuru: Food Safety and Drug Administration Department officers, functioning under Department of Health and Family Welfare, have launched an inspection drive zeroing in on the food sector including roadside fast food joints, bar and restaurants in city and taluk areas of the district. 

Following the directions of Deputy Commissioner (DC) G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, the Food Safety officers under the supervision of Statistical Officer Dr. S.L. Ravindra, have been conducting inspections in the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) limits from last three days and Statistical Officer Dr. A.N. Kantharaju in taluk limits, visiting 39 and 50 places respectively totalling 89 places.  

As many as 39 such places at Dattagalli, Kuvempunagar, Saraswathipuram, D. Devaraj Urs Road, Kotwal Ramaiah Street, Vegetable Market, Shankar Mutt Road, Kalidasa Road, were inspected. Notices were served on seven fast food vendors among total 30 vendors visited.  

While four bar and restaurants were inspected and notice was given to three and one wholesaler of milk products. 

Astonishingly, munchies like  spicy mixtures, green peas and red peas, excessively coloured beyond permissible limits and weighing up to 43.5-kg worth Rs. 4,160 were seized. 

In all, 16 survey samples were collected, which includes five micro items, eight chemical, two label examination and 2 testing samples to ascertain legality. 

Misbranded and suspected adulterated khova, weighing up to 32-kg worth Rs. 8,000, was seized along with suspected adulterated green peas weighing 13-kg, worth Rs. 1,300 at the Vegetable Market. 

Taluk-level 

At taluk-level, inspections were carried out under Statistical Officer Dr. A.N. Kantharaju and 50 food joints were inspected and 14 were served notices for violation of rules and regulations. The rotten food items were seized.  

Eight samples were seized to prepare analytical survey report in 4 cases, 4 for misbranding and 2 for legal analysis report.  

Plastic covers, which were approximately weighing more than 2-kg, were seized and discarded.