New Delhi, July 24 (IANS). The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has suspended the license of Rehaan Healthcare, a health supplements and nutraceuticals manufacturing company. This action was taken after serious violations of food safety standards were found in the company’s manufacturing unit during inspection.
The regulator has directed the company to close all food business and manufacturing activities with immediate effect. It has also been said that production will not be restarted until all the deficiencies are removed and compliance is verified from the competent authority.
Giving information on social media platform X, FSSAI said that serious level of irregularities were revealed during the inspection, after which the license of the company was suspended. The regulator has warned that if the company violates the suspension order, legal action will also be taken against it.
According to the food regulator, the company’s manufacturing units received an overall compliance score of only 12 per cent during the inspection, indicating extremely serious violations of food safety norms and gross failure to comply with the provisions.
FSSAI said that the factory premises were found to be extremely unhygienic and untidy. Dirt and sludge were accumulated at the bottom of manufacturing tanks, raw materials were stored in a haphazard manner and housekeeping conditions were extremely poor. This was creating a serious risk of cross-contamination of food products.
The inspection also found that the unit did not have adequate storage facilities, limited work space, poor ventilation and lighting, several parts of the building were damaged, pest infestation and valid reports regarding testing of drinking water were also not available.
FSSAI said the unit manufactures high-risk food grade products such as health supplements and nutraceuticals, which are also consumed by children and other sensitive sections. In such circumstances, unsanitary factory conditions and failure of food safety controls pose a serious and immediate threat to public health.
The regulator said that during the inspection, spider webs, mould, flies, other insects and food waste lying in the open were also found in the production area. The company manufactures digestive syrups, multivitamin syrups and other syrup based food products.
FSSAI said in recent months it has intensified action against food and beverage companies in cases of misleading claims, violation of labeling norms and non-adherence to food safety standards. Under this campaign, notices have also been issued to many e-commerce platforms. According to the regulator, these actions are being taken based on consumer complaints, suo motu and regular inspections conducted by food safety officials.
–IANS
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