Patna: The food safety wing of the health department seized over 5.55 tonnes of noodles, 855kg of ghee, 174kg of milk cake and other food items during inspections at several establishments across Patna on Wednesday. It also destroyed 60kg of ‘khoya’ and nine litres of expired milk, and ordered three establishments to shut down for operating without valid licences, according to a department communique. Industrial-grade hydro, a toxic chemical containing heavy metals, was also found in the raid.The biggest seizure was made at Rinku Foods Pvt Ltd in Bhupatipur, Ramkrishna Nagar, where 5,550kg of noodles worth Rs 2.22 lakh was seized over discrepancies in manufacturing and expiry dates, batch numbers and production records, said the communique.At Shyam Ghee Bhandar in Agamkuan, officials seized 855kg of ghee and 174kg of milk cake worth Rs 5.99 lakh. The establishment was ordered to shut down over licensing and storage irregularities. Samples were collected for testing, it said.At Sadhu Sweets and Confectionery in Danapur Cantonment, 40kg of khoya and 2kg of industrial-grade hydro, a toxic chemical containing heavy metals, were destroyed. The chemical was illegally used in making jalebis and pethas, said the communique.At Sweets and Snacks Pvt Ltd in Anisabad-Khagaul area, officials seized ‘amchur’ powder, custard powder and 256 packets of noodles, besides destroying 20kg of khoya. Seven food samples were collected. Flies were found in the sweet-making area.Nine litres of expired milk were destroyed at Maa Dairy Products in Phulwarisharif. The department also seized 600kg of laddoo dana from Lawrence Sweets and 525kg from Vikas Mithai Shop in Bhupatipur. Both were ordered to shut down for operating without licences.Samples will be tested and further action taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the communique said.
