FDA shuts bakery over use of expired ingredients, unhygienic conditions

Latur, Jul 19 (PTI) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered the immediate closure of a bakery in Latur district of Maharashtra over the use of expired raw materials in food preparations and unhygienic conditions at the establishment, officials said on Sunday.

The FDA has directed the bakery to suspend operations with immediate effect and has initiated proceedings to suspend its food registration certificate.

The action followed a surprise inspection of the Bangalore Iyengar’s Bakery, located at Mahatma Gandhi Chowk in Renapur town.

During the inspection, the FDA team found that food items were being prepared in unhygienic conditions that could pose a risk to public health.

Officials also detected the use of expired white compound chocolate

of various brands and expired calcium propionate powder, a preservative commonly used in bread-making.

The team seized and destroyed expired stock worth Rs 3,059 on the spot. It also found that 10 kg of khoya (milk solids) was not stored at the prescribed temperature. Samples of the khoya and milk toast were collected and sent for laboratory analysis, while the remaining 9 kg of khoya, valued at Rs 2,700, was destroyed.

In all, food items valued at Rs 5,759 were destroyed during the operation, officials said.

The FDA has directed the bakery to suspend operations with immediate effect and has initiated proceedings to suspend its food registration certificate. PTI COR NSK