Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Madan Yerawar on Monday said the state government is "committed to ensure healthy food for people, whether it is the street food or in restaurants." Speaking in the state Assembly during the Question Hour, Yerawar said that in the last one year, 1,014 food establishments were inspected and 259 licenses were cancelled for violating food safety norms. Minister of State for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Jaykumar Rawal admitted that a survey by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found online food delivery apps like Zomato, Uber, Foodpanda, andSwiggy, violating food safety norms. In a written reply to a question by BJP MLA from Khadakwasla Bhimrao Tapkir, Rawal said that the state government has cracked the whip online aggregators and food establishments which flout food safetynorms and conduct their businesses sans licenses. He said in October 2018, the FDA found that of the 366 food establishments examined by it, action regarding closure was taken against 122 for not having food safety licenses and registrations as was mandated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Rawal added that action has been initiated against Swiggy and Zomato for supplying food sourced through unlicensed establishments. A total of 59 cases are sub-judice against Swiggy, while 26 cases have been lodged in court against Zomato for penal action. "In this case, a fine of Rs 1,51,500 has been recovered from 15 small food retailers as compounding. Similarly, a case has been lodged in court against M/s Zomato Media Private Limited for conducting business sans licenses," he admitted. Fines have also been levied on Swiggy and Zomato for purchasing food from two unlicensed eateries and restaurants in Pune district. To another question raised in Assembly, Yerawar said the 'MaganlalChikki' (a sweet snack), popular in Lonavala, was found to be of sub-standard quality during a routine checking in December 2018. Therefore, the Maganlal Food Products company was asked to stop the production and a fine was imposed on it."A penalty of Rs 5 lakh was levied on the company for various violations. Similarly, a penalty of Rs 2.5 lakh was levied because the company did not have a certificate from the National accreditation board for Testing and Caliberation Laboratories (NABL)," Yerawar told the Lower House. In the last one year, 1,014 food establishments were inspected and 259 licenses cancelled, said the minister."The government is committed to ensure healthy food for people, whether it is the street food or in restaurants," he said. Crack The Whip In the last one year, 1,014 food establishments were inspected and 259 licenses were cancelled for violating food safely norms State has cracked the whip on online aggregators and food establishments which flout food safety norms and conduct their businesses sans licenses (With inputs from Agencies)

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