Vada Pav, Samosa, Cold Drinks and Chocolates Banned in and Around Maharashtra Schools
Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration announced a strict state-wide ban on Wednesday, prohibiting the sale, distribution, and advertisement of high-fat, sugary, and deep-fried items inside and around school premises. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Munde emphasised the strict accountability of school authorities and outlined the scope of prohibited items.
Mumbai, July 29: Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration announced a strict state-wide ban on Wednesday, prohibiting the sale, distribution, and advertisement of high-fat, sugary, and deep-fried items inside and around school premises. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Munde emphasised the strict accountability of school authorities and outlined the scope of prohibited items.
"I want to make it clear that excess fat, excess trans fat and excess sugar products, including deeply fried foods, excessive sugar drinks, vada pav, samosa, cold drinks, chocolates and ice cream, such junk foods are strictly not allowed inside schools to be sold, not be distributed freely, advertise and also not in the surrounding (50 metres range). Principal and School Management should implement this strictly, and there should also be awareness about it among parents," he said. Tukaram Mundhe-Led FDA Mandates FSSAI Licenses for School Canteens and Hostels in Maharashtra; Here's Why.
The official said action will be taken against the Principal and the School Management who don't comply and follow. "We will start inspections across the State soon. FDA along with School Management will be happy to take a workshop at District level and Taluka level to implement it smoothly," Munde added. He further detailed the enforcement rules and addressed exam-related complaints regarding the alleged MPSC paper leak.
"We received an email from an individual on the 21st. We recorded the person's statement on the 24th. MPSC is an independent body, and it conducts the Food and Drug Inspector examination. We have forwarded the statement and all the documents we received to the MPSC," Tukaram Munde said. In July, in a separate incident, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the food licences of three eateries in Mumbai after inspections revealed serious violations of hygiene and food safety norms, the department said on Tuesday.
According to the FDA, a total of six inspections were carried out, following which the licences of three food businesses in Bhendi Bazaar and Umarkhadi were suspended for failing to comply with food safety regulations. The FDA said one establishment's food licence was suspended on July 14 after a re-inspection conducted on July 13 found that 25 major deficiencies identified earlier had not been rectified. The outlet had first been inspected on April 16, following which an improvement notice was issued on April 28. Maharashtra FDA Suspends Licences of These 5 Clubs in Mumbai Over Food Safety Violations; Check Names Here.
During the re-inspection, officials found wet and slippery kitchen floors, absence of records for raw material procurement, no testing records for drinking water quality, lack of documentation regarding the quality of cooking oil, failure to maintain proper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and open windows without insect-proof screens, allowing pest entry.
