Ahmedabad, July 14 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Tuesday sealed a spice manufacturing unit and stopped the sale of around 2,000 kilograms of spices worth an estimated Rs 12.5 lakh after an investigation into an unsafe food sample traced the products to the facility.

The action was taken by AMC’s Health Department after a gravy sample collected earlier from Jai Ambe Bhojanalay was found to be “unsafe” by the Public Health Laboratory.

The laboratory finding prompted officials to investigate the source of the ingredients used in the gravy.

According to the civic body, the investigation found that the spices used in the gravy belonged to the “Kesarinandan Spices” brand and were manufactured by Jai Mataji Traders, a unit owned by Vikram Thawani in the Old Madhupura Dhala area of Ahmedabad.

A Food Department team carried out a detailed inspection at the manufacturing unit.

During the inspection, officials found packed chilli powder, turmeric powder and coriander-cumin powder marketed under the Kesarinandan Spices brand, along with loose stocks of the same products.

Pending completion of the investigation, the department issued a stop-sale order on an estimated 2,000 kilograms of spices in the interest of public health.

The stock comprises around 1,000 kilograms of packaged chilli powder, turmeric powder and coriander-cumin powder and another 1,000 kilograms of loose spices. The seized stock has an estimated value of Rs 12.5 lakh.

The manufacturing unit has also been sealed. Officials also collected three samples, chilli powder, turmeric powder and coriander-cumin powder, from Jai Mataji Traders under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The samples have been sent to the Public Health Laboratory for analysis.

In a statement, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation said, “The Food Department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation will not compromise in any manner with public health and will continue to take strict action against activities affecting food safety.”

The civic body further said that if any individual or food business operator is found to be endangering public health, strict action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act and the relevant provisions of the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations (GPMC) Act.

–IANS

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