Sub-standard sugar and packaged water impounded

IMPHAL, February 23: A team of the officials of the Directorate of Food Safety led by the Food Safety Deputy Commissioner, T Brojendro Khaba Meitei have seized several bags of substandard sugar from Kamal grocery at Dharmashala, Thangal Bazar today.

This was informed by the Deputy Commissioner, during a press conference held at the directorate office today.

He said, during the inspection which was conducted since this morning, the team had also found several packaged water without the mandatory ISI mark. The bottles were impounded from shops located at Palace Gate, Thangmeiband and Khuyathong.

Elaborating further on the impounding of the sugar bags, the official said that sugar is a crystallised substance and it should be clear and non-sticky. "However the sugar in the impounded bags were found to be sticky and foreign particles like rice, stones, flour, woods etc. were present," he said while adding that the sale of sub-standard food items is against the law and is a punishable act under The Food Safety Standard Act, 2006.

Brojendro  further elaborated that there are certain sellers who add iron dust to weigh it down before selling it to the customers which creates risk for the customers and is punishable if caught in the act.

He said the first step that the authorities can take up is to nab all such owners and make checking of the godowns used in storing commodities by the concerned department compulsory.

He continued that the sugar bags should have the code numbers, date of packaging, expiry date etc properly labelled on the outside.

Elaborating further on the impounded packaged water bottles, he said the bottles were labelled ‘Yes’ and manufactured by M/S Lairikyengbam Enterprises, opposite Yairipok PS.

He continued that the water bottle without the ISI mark could mean that it is using unhygienic and un preserved water without the approval or checking by the Food Safety Department.