Rodent droppings, live insects: FSSAI suspends licences of two food units

NEW DELHI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has suspended the licences of two food manufacturing units in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra after inspections uncovered serious food safety violations, including live insects in pistachios, rodent droppings, fungal growth and unhygienic processing conditions.

The action was taken against VKC Nuts Private Limited (Uttar Pradesh) and Chheda Specialities Foods Pvt Ltd (Maharashtra). FSSAI said the deficiencies posed a potential risk to public health.

At VKC Nuts, inspectors found live insects in stored pistachios, heavy black mould on storage walls and ceilings, rodent droppings across the premises, rusted machinery, damaged flooring, houseflies on food products and a live lizard near open crates of figs. They also found a food handler sorting figs with a bandaged hand and another handling dry fruits without prescribed corrective spectacles. The unit scored 38% in FSSAI's compliance assessment, following which its licence was partially suspended with immediate effect.

At Chheda Specialities Foods, inspectors found workers mixing besan dough with bare hands and peeling bananas on contaminated floors beside decomposing waste. The inspection also found fungal growth around edible oil tanks, wastewater on the processing floor, broken insect-proof mesh, dead houseflies, poor waste management and raw materials stored on wet, dusty floors. Multiple food samples collected during earlier inspections had already been declared unsafe or misbranded, with legal proceedings still underway. The unit recorded a compliance score of 42%.

FSSAI said the licences have been suspended in the interest of public health and food safety. Chheda Specialities Foods will remain under suspension until it implements corrective measures and demonstrates full compliance with food safety regulations, while VKC Nuts' partial suspension will continue until further orders.

The suspensions highlight the regulator's continued crackdown on food safety lapses across the country. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, manufacturers are required to maintain hygiene and quality standards to protect consumers. FSSAI officials said regular inspections are carried out to ensure compliance, and strict action is taken against violators.

Consumers are advised to check packaging for FSSAI licence numbers and report any concerns about food quality to the authorities.