Bombay high court tells FDA to file report on raids on illegal mukhwas, confectionery sellers

MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Monday directed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to continue raids on the illegal sale of mukhwas and other confectionery while hearing a public interest litigation on its "grave harm to the health of public at large".Observing that public health in these testing times should not suffer any further because of the greed of some persons, HC said the state FDA must take measures for the benefit of the public.The observation by Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M G Sewlikar followed the court's directions to the food safety commissioner to file a report on raids conducted to arrest the illegal sale of mukhwas and other confectionery that do not conform to Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) norms. The report must give the number of raids, samples obtained and results of their analysis.The judges heard a PIL by activist Bhavesh Kalia that "mukhwas, supari, churan etc" are bought in bulk by big shops, outlets and retailers from "imitators, adulterators and homemade" and repacked unhygienically in non-food grade plastic bags bearing their own names and with stickers mentioning only the weight and the maximum retail price. Consequently, public health is a casualty.Kalia's advocate Mehul Shah urged for a special investigation team to "go and find out" whether FSSAI norms are adhered to. Government pleader Poornima Kantharia said action was taken "against shop owners not only in Mumbai but also Maharashtra." The CJ said, "Take instruction on what you have done in the last 6 months. Don't wait for the order of the court to crack down on sellers." While the PIL cited FDA's 2014 inspection report, the judges said it may not be relevant now. They added there is no gainsaying that the state as well as FDA must with "immediate earnest" crack down on such confectionery.