Report

Food safety officials from Uttarakhand raided two soda manufacturing units in Haridwar Industrial Area and Nirmali Chawani near the railway station on Wednesday. Acting ahead of the Kanwar Mela, an annual pilgrimage travel, the department found both units producing soda using toilet tap water and harmful chemicals like sodium benzoate, posing serious health risks.

Units Operated Without Licenses or Hygiene Standards

Officials discovered that one unit lacked an FSSAI license while the other failed to meet basic safety norms. Workers filled reused plastic bottles without cleaning or sterilisation. The team also found open drains, no pest control, and bottles without labels—clear violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. “We caught them preparing soda in extremely unhygienic conditions. They had no expert supervision or quality checks, and they were using toilet water,” said Sanjay Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of the Food Safety Department.

Contaminated Soda Sold Across Haridwar Markets

The units distributed these beverages widely—across highway stalls, local vendors, and busy areas like Har-Ki-Pauri and along the Char Dham route. Officials linked similar drinks in the past to diarrhoea and stomach infections, raising alarm over continued circulation of unsafe products. Food safety officers seized multiple soda bottles and sent them to a certified government lab for analysis. The department cancelled one unit’s license and issued legal notices to both. The owners now face hefty fines and possible imprisonment under food safety laws.

FSSAI Increases Surveillance as Summer Demand Rises

FSSAI and local authorities have stepped up efforts to crack down on unsafe food and beverage operations as summer temperatures fuel a surge in cold drink consumption. Surveillance has been intensified across the state, with more raids planned in the coming weeks to identify and shut down illegal units. A senior food safety official emphasized the importance of public cooperation and urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious establishments. He assured that strict action will be taken against violators, reaffirming that protecting public health remains the top priority.

Source: The Times of India

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