Namkeen Factory in Ahmedabad’s Naroda Sealed Over Oil Disposal Lapses, 1,000 Kg Stock Held

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) Food Safety Department has sealed Jain Super Namkeen Factory in Naroda for failing to maintain proper arrangements and records for the disposal of used cooking oil. Officials placed 1,000 kg of prepared namkeen, gram flour (besan) and refined wheat flour (maida) on hold after finding that the factory, which reportedly used around 125 kg of cooking oil daily, could not produce the required disposal records.

As part of its Diwali food safety drive, the department also collected 29 samples of sweets, savoury snacks and other food products from establishments across Ahmedabad on Monday, October 26, and sent them for laboratory testing.

With demand for sweets and farsan rising during the festive season, officials are inspecting food quality, hygiene, manufacturing practices and the handling of cooking oil used by food businesses.

Naroda Namkeen Factory Sealed Over Oil Disposal Records

During an inspection of Jain Super Namkeen Factory at Madhusudan Business Park in Naroda, food safety officials found that the unit lacked an adequate system for storing and disposing of used cooking oil.

According to the department, the factory consumed approximately 125 kg of cooking oil daily but could not produce the necessary arrangements and records to show that the used oil was being handed over to an authorised agency for disposal.

Officials sealed the unit and collected samples of used cooking oil and besan for laboratory analysis. They also placed 1,000 kg of stock, comprising prepared namkeen, besan and maida, on hold.

Further legal action will be taken after the laboratory report on the used cooking oil is received.

AMC Collects 29 Food Samples Ahead of Diwali

As part of the ongoing festive-season inspection drive, the AMC Food Safety Department collected 29 samples from establishments across the city on October 26.

The establishments included Bhavnagari Sweet Mart, Krishna Sweet Mart, Shri Nagar Chavana and Sweet Mart, Gwalia Sweets, Amrut Mithai Junction and Hira Misthan.

The samples included kaju katli, mohanthal, peda, kalakand, barfi, rasgulla, besan and used cooking oil. All the samples were sent to the corporation’s laboratory for testing.

The inspections aim to check whether food products meet prescribed quality and safety standards during the festive season.

Earlier Tests Detect Synthetic Colours in Snack Products

The department has also reported deficiencies in snack products collected during earlier inspections.

A sample of ‘Snack Touchup’ collected from M J F Food in Behrampura on October 15 was found to contain synthetic colours that did not comply with prescribed standards. The sample also tested positive for starch and was declared both substandard and unsafe.

Officials seized 2,000 kg of Snack Touchup, tomato powder and other raw materials from the unit and sealed the establishment.

In another inspection, samples collected from Aai Shree Khodiyar Gruh Udyog in Gota on October 17 also showed deficiencies. The ‘Snack Touchup’ sample was declared unsafe, while the samples of ‘Tomato Paste’ and ‘Potato Paste’ were classified as substandard.

Repeated Use of Cooking Oil Can Pose Health Risks

According to the Food Safety Department, repeatedly heating cooking oil can increase its Total Polar Compounds (TPC) content. Under applicable standards, used vegetable oil with a TPC level exceeding 25% cannot be used for human consumption.

The department warned that repeated use and consumption of degraded cooking oil may increase the risk of several health problems, including high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, liver disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Food Businesses Must Maintain Used Oil Disposal Records

The AMC Food Safety Department said food businesses using more than 50 kg or 50 litres of cooking oil daily for frying must maintain records of daily oil consumption, the quantity of used oil generated and its disposal.

Used cooking oil must be stored separately in properly labelled containers and handed over to an authorised agency for disposal.

The department has directed food manufacturers to maintain the required records and ensure that used oil is disposed of through authorised agencies. It has also warned that violations of food safety regulations during the festive season will invite action under the applicable laws.