FDA India closes packaging plant after it was caught reusing oil tins
Officials in India seized 300 tin boxes each containing 15kg oil worth Rs 9.92 lakh ($16,000) during a raid on August 21 by food safety officials Yogesh Dhane and Balasaheb Kotkar.
Recycled tins
"The unit owner used to purchase palm olein oil in bulk from Karnataka and would do the branding, labelling and packaging at his unit at Market Yard in Gultekdi,” said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner food, FDA, Pune.
“When we raided the unit, we found that the tin containers used for packaging the edible oil were old and recycled. Hence, we seized the stock and closed down the unit."
The FDA said in a statement, the owner was also found operating the unit without licence.
He was issued with a stop-production notice until he applies for a new licence.
Samples sent for tests
Samples of the oil have been sent for tests at a laboratory at the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
According to the FDA containers used for packaging food products should comply with different Indian standards; tin and plastic containers should not be re-used for packaging edible oils and fat and all containers should be securely sealed and packed and free from leaks.
Labelling should be clear and readable; all the ingredients should be mentioned in the label-A class title; nutritional information should be provided on the label except for bulk products and the ones not sold to consumers and all food additives should be declared with the INS number and a best before date with the country of origin if a product is imported.
