Food Safety / Food Safety Officers Raid Puri Fruit Warehouses

Puri, Sep 12: Ahead of the festive season, the Puri Municipal Corporation conducted a surprise food safety raid on fruit warehouses and retail outlets across Badashankha, Red Cross Road, and Market Square.

Acting under the directive of District Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida, the inspection was led by Food Safety Officers Tapaswini Behera and Vedashree Sahu to enforce compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

During the inspection, officials discovered the use of artificial ripening agents and chemicals directly on fruits. Approximately 20 kilograms of bananas deemed unfit for human consumption were seized and destroyed following prescribed procedures.

Also read: BMC Raids Expose Expired Food, Expired Items in Bhubaneswar

Authorities imposed a fine of ₹12,000 on the concerned Food Business Operators (FBOs) for violating food safety norms.

Officials instructed vendors to refrain from using unauthorized chemicals and to maintain proper hygiene standards.

Earlier this month, the Food Safety Department intensified inspections at multiple outlets across the capital to ensure compliance with hygiene and quality standards.

One of the key checks was conducted at a well-known fast-food outlet inside Pal Heights Mall at Jayadev Vihar. Officials examined food items being prepared and sold, while also scrutinizing storage and handling practices to assess adherence to safety norms.

The inspection was supervised by Food Safety Officer Satyajit Patel, who led three teams deployed simultaneously across different locations in Bhubaneswar. Each team focused on identifying lapses in food quality and monitoring outlets that attract heavy footfall during the festive season.

Special attention was given to establishments dealing in frozen food products. Inspectors reviewed the condition, storage methods, and handling of frozen items to determine whether they met prescribed safety requirements.