Imported orange pulp seized, 5 employees of cold storage logistics chain arrested, the beverage maker, Coca Cola fined Rs 15 L.
The Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) recently imposed a significant fine of Rs 15 lakh on Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd for misbranding imported items. In a routine inspection at Cold Man Logistics Pvt Ltd, Kheda, on June 14, 2022, labeling discrepancies were discovered in 8,000 kg of imported frozen orange pulp from Peace River Brand.
As per the media reports, the inspection led by FDCA Commissioner Dr HG Koshia, during a routine check in June 2022 at Coldman Logistics Pvt Ltd in Gobhalaj village, Kheda, the FDCA-Nadiad team landed upon the mislabeled imported ingredient, frozen orange pulp from the HCCB.
Further inspection revealed a total of 8,000 kg of the Peace River Citrus Products- a Florida-based supplier’s frozen orange pulp stored in 400 boxes of 20 kg each.
Designated officers from Nadiad-Kheda and Food Safety Officers jointly carried out a sampling of suspicious food items in presence of Abhishek Premprakash Aggarwal, a nominee of the firm Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd.
After drawing the samples, eight tonnes of the product, with an estimated value of Rs 11 lakh, was seized on the spot. These samples were sent to a Food Analyst in Bhuj for verification, and were declared misbranded on August 8, 2022. Based on this, a complaint was filed by the Food Safety Officer before the Adjudicating Officer in Kheda (Nadiad) against a total of five persons.
Taking into account the seriousness of the case, the Adjudicating Officer, fined all the five accused persons Rs 15 lakh.
Earlier the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had warned about misleading food labels in dietary guideline, stressing the importance of careful reading. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) have also highlighted deceptive health claims on packaged foods, urging consumers to cross-check information.
Meanwhile, the FDCA a warehouse at Bodeli in Chhota Udepur and seized red chilli powder, suspected to be adulterated with capsicum oleoresin and a inedible red colour compound.
Koshia said, “The team seized 25 kg of inedible red colour that was being mixed into the spice powder along with 9 kg of capsicum oleoresin. The trader was packing packets of extra hot chilli powder and Kashmiri kumthi chilli powder for sale in unbranded packets, without the mandatory batch number, packing date, address of the manufacturer and other such details… We have collected six samples and sent them for testing.”
Koshia added that adulteration in spices is common during summer, as it is the season for bulk purchase. “While brands are cautious about their image, fly by night traders resort to such adulteration tricks to make quick money. In the Bodeli case, we will invoke criminal sections as inedible colour was being used to adulterate spices.”
