New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has suspended the licence of Ganesh Products Pvt. Ltd. with immediate effect after an inspection of its food manufacturing unit found serious food safety, hygiene and sanitation violations.
The inspection reportedly found cockroaches, rodents, flies and cobwebs in processing and storage areas, along with poor cleaning, inadequate storage and deteriorating production infrastructure. Officials also found expired or unlabelled food materials stored alongside finished products.
The regulator said the violations had the potential to compromise food safety and public health. The licence will remain suspended until further orders.
Inspection finds widespread hygiene problems
According to the inspection findings cited in the report, the manufacturing facility had significant sanitation problems. Officials observed dirt, soil, dark matter, algae or fungal spots and cobwebs across parts of the premises.
The inspection also identified pest infestation, with cockroaches, rodents, flies and dead mice reportedly found at the facility.
FSSAI officials found that pest-control arrangements were inadequate. Rodent boxes were reportedly absent, while pest-control equipment at the facility was not functioning properly.
The findings point to shortcomings not limited to a single area of the manufacturing unit, with concerns recorded across processing and storage spaces.
Finished products were stored inadequately
The inspection also raised concerns about the way finished products were stored.
Officials found products improperly stacked and kept close to walls. Ventilation in the finished-product storage area was also found to be inadequate.
The inspection reportedly found expired and unlabelled food materials being stored alongside finished products. Waste, old stock, rejected lots and scrap material had also accumulated in food-handling areas.
Such storage conditions can create additional risks of contamination and make it difficult to maintain proper separation between usable products, rejected materials and waste.
Rusting containers and damaged infrastructure flagged
The inspection identified problems with equipment and the physical condition of the manufacturing premises.
Most production containers were reportedly found to have rusting. Some containers were described as unhygienic and were found carrying unwanted material.
FSSAI officials also noted several structural and maintenance issues, including flaking paint, dampness, broken floor tiles and damaged corners.
These deficiencies were recorded alongside the sanitation and pest-control concerns identified during the inspection.
Records and food-safety procedures were missing
The inspection also found gaps in documentation and food-safety procedures.
According to the report, testing records for control samples covering one year or the relevant product shelf life were unavailable.
Several other records and procedures were also reportedly missing. These included mock recall records, consumer complaint records and internal and external audit records.
The inspection further flagged the absence of a jewellery policy and proper handwashing facilities.
Such records and procedures are part of the systems used by food businesses to monitor compliance, trace products and respond to potential food-safety issues.
FSSAI suspends licence with immediate effect
Following the inspection, the food regulator suspended the FSSAI licence of Ganesh Products with immediate effect and until further orders.
FSSAI said the serious non-compliances identified during the inspection had the potential to compromise food safety and public health.
The action comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of food businesses, with food-safety authorities in different parts of the country taking action over hygiene, sanitation, pest-control and storage violations.
The Ganesh Products case highlights the importance of maintaining sanitation, pest-control systems, appropriate storage conditions and proper documentation throughout food manufacturing operations.
For the company, the licence suspension means the regulatory action remains in force until further orders from the food-safety authorities.