From Our Correspondent
TURA: The A’chik Youth Welfare Organization (AYWO) has urged the Food Inspector, Tura, West Garo Hills to check and take action regarding the non-existence of appropriate labeling in locally packaged food products of Garo Hills.
AYWO said that, many locally packaged food products, especially bakery products are being sold in the market without any appropriate labeling such as date of manufacture, batch number, expiry dates, maximum retail price etc. which is a crucial decisive necessity for the consumer’s health protection.
“Food is very much a sensitive and risky commodity when it is not handled carefully.”
“Tested packaging material, hygienic processed plant and equipment, hygiene of employees etc, all have to be taken into account because without it, the safety of the consumers is not guaranteed” said Shoshon A Sangma, Anti Corruption Secretary of AYWO.
The Organization also mentioned that the sealing process or packaging method does not meet the standard (recommended) specification of Food Product Order (FPO) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) under the aegis of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India.
Sangma said “The food manufacturers are liable (mandatory) to follow the rules and regulation which safeguards the consumer community from food borne diseases and food poisoning”.
AYWO alleged that the Organization has been receiving numerous complaints from consumers and citizens in general against food products being sold in and around Tura and other parts of West Garo Hills without proper packaging and without appropriate labels.
With this end in view, the AYWO has urged the Food Safety Officer, West Garo Hills to direct all the manufacturers operating in his jurisdiction in strongest terms to follow the norms and also to not allow suppliers to import food products from any place to Garo Hills without any proper information labeled on respective goods.