The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken stringent action against two food processing companies - VKC Nuts Private Limited in Uttar Pradesh and Chheda Specialties Foods Pvt. Ltd. in Maharashtra - following inspections that revealed serious violations of food safety and hygiene standards. The action includes partial suspension of VKC Nuts’ licence and suspension of Chheda Specialties Foods’ licence with immediate effect.
According to the inspection findings, VKC Nuts was found to have major deficiencies across its raw material storage, processing and finished goods areas. Live insects were detected in pistachios stored in the finished goods area, while heavy black mould and fungal growth were observed on walls and ceilings of the raw material storage area.
Inspectors also found the raw material storage floor dirty, slippery, greasy and unhygienic, with rat droppings, damaged flooring and food remnants reportedly eaten by rodents or pests. Rusted, dirty and damaged machinery was being used in processing, while plastic trays, crates, knives and containers were found chipped, damaged and unhygienic.
The inspection further reported peeling paint and plaster, houseflies on food products, ineffective pest-control measures, damaged rodent bait stations and rodent droppings across the premises. Several cartons containing dates showed signs of rodent damage and partially eaten food.
Other violations included inadequate clearance between cartons and walls, absence of fly-catcher machines in raw material and finished goods storage areas, improper segregation of raw materials, discarded products, work-in-process and finished goods, and missing batch and date details on some raw material cartons. Expired cranberry raw material was also found in the finished goods storage area.
The overall compliance score of VKC Nuts was recorded at just 38%, indicating significant deficiencies in its food safety management system. FSSAI said the licence of the company had been partially suspended with immediate effect under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, until further orders.
At Chheda Specialties Foods, inspectors observed food handlers mixing besan dough with bare hands and peeling bananas while sitting on contaminated floors near decomposing waste. Extensive fungal growth was found around fresh and used edible oil storage tanks.
The inspection also highlighted grossly inadequate waste management, with market-returned, rejected and expired products stored near raw material handling areas. Roof leakages, damaged floors, stagnant water, flaking walls and direct wastewater discharge onto the processing floor were reported. Broken insect-proof mesh and dead houseflies in the seasoning area pointed to ineffective pest control.
Raw materials and packaging materials were stored directly on wet and dusty floors, while unlabeled food containers lacked batch and date markings. FSSAI noted that multiple food samples collected during earlier inspections had been declared “Unsafe” or “Misbranded”, with legal proceedings still ongoing.
The inspection recorded a critical non-compliance score of 42% (36/86). In view of the serious deficiencies and potential risks to public health and food safety, FSSAI suspended Chheda Specialties Foods’ licence with immediate effect. The suspension will continue until the company implements comprehensive corrective measures covering sanitation, hygiene, pest control, waste management, infrastructure repairs and staff training, and demonstrates compliance with applicable food safety regulations.