The Pakistan sourced toffees/sweets found in some groceries in Udaipur and alleged to be containing beef have been declared mis-branded and unfit for consumption by the Food Safety department. These products had been confiscated by the department in December last year from a shop in Udaipur.  The examination report was disclosed on Thursday, 2 February.

Udaipur CMHO, Dr. Shankar Lal Bamnia, in his statement to UdaipurTimes, said, "The samples of the said toffee were taken by the medical department and were sent to the laboratory.  The reports confirm that the toffees are mis-branded and uinfit for consumption."  He added that a notice has been served to the shop keeper regarding the procurement, storage and selling of these products, for which he has been asked to give a clarification within 30 days.

Dr. Bamnia said that within the stipulated response window, the shopkeeper can also request re-sampling and if the reports are the same, then strict legal action will be taken against him by the department.

Moreover, as the product is found to be unsafe for consumption, the matter will be tried in the ADM court and as it is said to be mis-branded this matter will be dealt with in the Sub Divisional Magistrate Court, he added.

Dr. Bamnia also said that the if the shop keeper is found guilty under any of the counts, then he will be punished under the relevant section, and it will be a non-bailable offence. A report of the same will be later send to the head office for further action.

Background

It was on 14 December 2022, when Food Safety Officials found few packets of Pakistan made toffees alleged to be containing beef, during an inspection at a shop, after receiving information of the presence of these toffees at this shop. The officals seized 3 boxes of toffees containing more than 24 units in each box and then sent samples of the toffee for testing at the laboratory.

The parcel in which the toffees were delivered bore an address of Baluchistan in Pakistn, sported a Made in Pakistan mark and a red dot, which indicted that the product is non-vegetrian.

The shopkeeper when asked about the toffees said that he brought them from Crawford Marker in Mumbai and was not aware about the contents. The question is that how such products are easily entering the market and why such entry is not controlled by the relevant authorities.