Ahmedabad Civic Body Seals 4 Units, Including Dairies and Restaurants

Ahmedabad: The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Food Department has intensified inspections and enforcement against food businesses to ensure that citizens get safe and quality food and are protected from substandard or unauthorised food products. As part of the drive, the civic body today sealed two dairy units, one food outlet and one restaurant.

During inspections, the AMC Food Department found the use of analogue paneer at two units in Ahmedabad, Khodiyar Dairy Farm in Khokhra and Shri Kailash Dughdhalaya in Naranpura.

Both units were sealed for violating the state government’s August 5 prohibition order. Further legal action will be taken under the applicable provisions of law.

The AMC has also been checking cooking oil used by hotels, restaurants, fast-food outlets, caterers, snack shops and other Food Business Operators (FBOs) across the city as part of its food safety drive.

During an inspection at Mumbaiya Misal Vadapav (MMV) in Jagatpur, officials tested the cooking oil used at the outlet and found Total Polar Compounds (TPC) at 31.5%, exceeding the maximum permissible limit of 25% prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Under FSSAI rules, used vegetable oil or fat containing more than 25% TPC cannot be used for preparing food. Repeated heating of cooking oil can increase TPC levels and other potentially harmful compounds due to oxidation, hydrolysis and other chemical processes.

The AMC has advised all food businesses to avoid repeatedly using cooking oil, ensure that oil with TPC levels above 25% is not used for cooking, prevent used oil from re-entering the food chain and dispose of it properly. Where applicable, used cooking oil should be handed over to an authorised Used Cooking Oil (UCO) collection agency.

The AMC Food Department has also taken action against Om Shakti Restaurant in Naroda after an inspection found the use of an unauthorised artificial or synthetic food colour in its gravy.

Food businesses are permitted to use only food colours approved by the FSSAI, and only within the specified food categories and prescribed limits. The use of colouring substances without specific permission is prohibited under food safety regulations.

Considering the violation, the AMC sealed Om Shakti Restaurant in Naroda. Further legal proceedings will be initiated as per the applicable rules. DeshGujarat