Dimapur, Sep. 11 (EMN): Health authorities of Kohima district on Tuesday banned the distribution, supply, and sale of apple juice and grape juice of the Myanmar make that are stated to be of the brand names ’Soo Te’ and ‘Power.’
The chief medical officer (CMO) and food safety designated officer of Kohima, Dr. Ritu Thurr, issued a statement informing that the food products from Myanmar were found “flooding the market with no date of manufacture, no best before date and no name of the manufacturer.”
According him, the food products were entering the market illegally and contravening the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 and Regulations, 2011. “The food business operators disclosed that these juices are Myanmar products and being distributed in the market through some distributors/suppliers in Kohima. These are all misbranded imported food products, and in the eventuality of any food poisoning, it will not be possible to implicate the manufacturers/producers.
“Therefore, whoever is distributing/supplying these food products are hereby directed to immediately stop the distribution/supply of it in the market. Failure to comply, necessary action as per the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, Rules & Regulations, 2011 would be initiated. The retailers are also hereby directed to return the stated food products to the concerned distributor/supplier because you are also liable to be penalized as per the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, Rules & Regulations, 2011 when it is found in your business premises,” the statement read.
The medical officer also advised consumers to check labels before buying any food products. “In the case of food products imported into India, it should have the name and complete address of the importer in India on the package or on the containers. If any food poisoning arises with a particular imported food, necessary action can be taken through the importer.
“However, in case of Myanmar food products, there is no importer name or address on the package. Now, the question, on whom to take action when a food poisoning cases occurs? Therefore, as consumers, one should be aware and be alert of such food products,” he stated.
