Bihar Intensifies Food Safety Inspections; 15 Establishments Face Prosecution
Bihars health department has ramped up food safety inspections, leading to 15 prosecutions and the seizure of expired products.
Patna, October 24 (Daily Kiran) : The Bihar health department has intensified its efforts to ensure safe and quality food for residents. Under the direction of Health Minister Nishant, inspections have been conducted at 531 food establishments across the state over the past three months. This initiative has resulted in the seizure and destruction of expired and substandard food items, the suspension of licenses for two establishments, and prosecution actions against 15 others.
The food safety department is focusing on a range of businesses, including hotels, restaurants, sweet shops, dairies, food manufacturing units, and packaged drinking water vendors. Inspections assess food quality, storage practices, kitchen cleanliness, valid licensing, and compliance with food safety standards. Patna has seen the highest number of inspections, with 87 establishments checked.
Minister Nishant emphasized that there will be no compromise on public health. Food businesses must adhere to cleanliness, safe storage, and the use of quality ingredients. Non-compliance will lead to appropriate actions against the concerned establishments.
During inspections in Patna, a significant quantity of expired and substandard food was discovered. According to departmental data, approximately 15,340 liters of packaged drinking water, 3,456 kilograms of milk cake, 155 kilograms of gulab jamun, 96 kilograms of rasgulla, and 170 kilograms of mixed sweets and paneer were confiscated. Investigations also targeted packaged drinking water units operating without valid licenses in areas like Sampatchak and Gaurichak.
Irregularities were found at establishments such as Mahadev Enterprises and Triveni Neer, leading to the seizure of drinking water. Some units were cited for packaging without a license and using various brand labels incorrectly. Samples from these establishments have been sent for laboratory testing. Inspections at hotels and restaurants revealed issues with kitchen cleanliness, food storage, and employee health certificates. In some cases, vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods were stored together.
On October 21, inspectors confiscated 30 kilograms of foul-smelling paneer and four kilograms of rice from a Barbeque Nation outlet on Buddha Marg. Additionally, 20 liters of burnt oil were seized from a location on Fraser Road. The following day, 40 liters of expired Amul milk were confiscated from a Blinkit store, along with expired ghee, flour, and spices from a store in SK Nagar. Other districts, including Rohtas, Saran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Gaya, and Vaishali, also underwent inspections.
In Vaishali, 22,992 liters of packaged drinking water were seized from unlicensed units. In Bidupur, 328 kilograms of adulterated paneer, valued at approximately ₹85,280, were destroyed. Similar actions were taken against substandard paneer, expired milk, sweets, and other food items in Muzaffarpur, West Champaran, Samastipur, and other districts. Establishments found in violation have been issued a 14-day notice to rectify the deficiencies.
The department has instructed officials to upload inspection and raid reports to a dedicated portal. Training has been provided to food safety officers to strengthen the inspection process. Officials assert that the campaign against violators of food safety standards will continue.
