Key Update

The Food Safety Department has shut down Shirin Foods, a Payyoli-based establishment in Kozhikode, after discovering it was manufacturing new food products using substandard and mould-infested ingredients. The unit operates on IPC Road. Acting on confidential information, a team led by Balussery Circle Food Safety Officer P.G. Unmesh, along with Koyilandy Food Safety Officer Dr Viji Wilson and official Aravind, conducted a thorough inspection on Wednesday, which lasted from morning till evening.

Thousands of Kilograms of Expired Food Seized

Officials seized around 3,000 kg of bread crumbs and nearly 500 kg of chapati, buns, bread, and rusk. Officer P.G. Unmesh explained that the firm collected expired food items from traders under the pretext of using them as cattle feed. The establishment then ground the items into powder and supplied them for fast-food preparation.

The seized materials were reportedly used to make cutlets, fried snacks, and other fast-food items. Sources indicate that the unit earns lakhs of rupees in monthly sales. Officials also revealed that the firm sourced stale food from as far as Bengaluru, repackaging and selling it as fresh.

Legal Violations and Health Risks

The bakery holds a municipal licence solely for operating a bakery. Officials emphasised that a single unit cannot legally manufacture food products intended for both human and animal consumption. Additionally, the unit lacked the necessary equipment to test whether its raw materials were safe for consumption. Feeding stale food products to cattle could affect milk quality, officials warned. They confirmed that criminal action would follow once laboratory tests of the seized samples are completed.

Source: Mathrubhumi