Rotten apples seized from fruit vendor’s godown destroyed by FSSAI officials in Srivilliputtur

In a raid conducted by the food safety officials in Srivilliputtur at a private fruit vendor’s godown, 82 kilograms of rotten apple were seized and destroyed in the municipal yard on Friday.

The officials conducted the check at five other shops belonging to the private fruit vendor in Rajaji Salai near the bus stand.

Discreet probe suggested that the vendor had obtained the mandatory FSSAI licence only for two of his outlets and was operating other shops without licence. The officials said that this was an offence and immediately ordered suspension of sales for those outlets which had no licence.

District Designated Officer S. Mariappan said that the government issued public notices through the District Collector and also the FSSAI authorities conducted awareness programmes and sensitised the consumers to know about the guidelines.

Despite conducting so many campaigns, when vendors pleaded ignorance, the officials wouldn’t spare them and fines up to ₹10 lakh would be imposed as per the 2006 Act.

Any person, who was engaged in selling or distributing food items should register themselves in the official website and obtain licence for a particular period.

In the specific incident of a raid in the fruit vendor’s godown, the officials found rotten apples that could not be consumed at all. It was unfit for human consumption, they added.

Public can lodge complaint through WhatsApp number – 9444042322. To understand more about the consumer rights and the penal laws to violators, public can visit https://foscos.fssai.gov.in

Only about a week ago, the FSSAI officials in the district had raided an eatery outlet and destroyed a huge pack of ‘chappatis’ in Alagapuri and Sivakasi respectively.

Any person sharing information about such substandard eatables may lodge complaints and the information would be kept confidential, the officials said.