Cases filed against 38 industries for selling substandard food items

KATHMANDU, JULY 25: The Food Technology and Quality Control Division Office has filed cases against 38 industries on the charge of violating the Food Act 1967. In the fiscal year 202023/24, these industries faced action  for producing substandard food and beverages that go against the act. According to the office chief, Jyoti Acharya, they were found manufacturing such products during sample tests conducted after monitoring 77 industries.

As per the act, any business producing and selling contaminated and substandard food items will face five years of imprisonment, a fine of Rs 50,000, or both. According to the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081 BS, which will come into effect on August 3, anyone producing and selling contaminated food items will be punished with five years of imprisonment, a fine of Rs 500,000, or both.

The office addressed 21 complaints in the last fiscal year. The office has been advising people not to keep food in ink-printed newspapers, not to use synthetic colour in food products, including meat, and not to use banned chemicals such as calcium carbide to ripen fruits.