Chennai, Oct 31:
The Chennai district administration has issued a set of guidelines for traders involved in the preparation and sale of sweets and savouries ahead of Diwali, directing them to follow food safety standards and maintain hygiene.
In a statement, Chennai Collector S Malathi Helen said all food business operators preparing sweets and savouries must obtain the mandatory licence or registration certificate under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Even those setting up temporary stalls, preparing snacks in marriage halls or making them at homes on orders must register with the Food Safety Department. The certificate must be displayed prominently.
Packed sweets and savouries must carry details such as the date of manufacture, expiry date, manufacturer’s address, food safety registration number and vegetarian or non-vegetarian symbol. Retailers must also display the manufacturing and expiry dates on products kept in open trays.
Food items should be prepared and sold only in hygienic surroundings free from flies, insects and contamination. Traders must use only permitted artificial food colours within prescribed limits and avoid excessive colouring to make products attractive. Several colours, including Metanil Yellow and Rhodamine B, are prohibited.
Milk-based sweets, which have a shorter shelf life of around three to five days, should not be packed along with other sweets in gift boxes. Details of the cooking oil and ghee used in preparing snacks must be displayed at shops.
Traders have been instructed not to mix fresh cooking oil with oil that is already hot. Used cooking oil should not be reused repeatedly and must be handed over to authorised agencies under the government’s RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) scheme for conversion into biofuel.
Only safe drinking water should be used for cooking, and traders must possess a water quality test certificate. Workers involved in food preparation and handling must wear gloves, head covers and protective coats and possess medical fitness certificates.
The Collector advised consumers to purchase festive snacks only from registered establishments, avoid products displayed in the open or covered with flies, and stay away from items containing excessive artificial colours. They should check the label details on packed products and obtain proper bills for their purchases.
Complaints regarding food quality can be sent through WhatsApp to 94440 42322 or registered on the website foodsafety.tn.gov.in and the TN Food Safety Consumer App.