The food safety authority has suspended the license of New Delhi-based Marche Retail for 30 days due to hygiene failures. Simultaneously, Daman-based SDP Industries is prohibited from selling ghee brands like 'Shraddha' and 'Gokul' after lab tests confirmed adulteration. These actions reflect the regulator’s intensifying focus on food safety standards across the industry.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken enforcement action against two private food companies, citing critical safety and compliance violations. These actions, which include a temporary license suspension for one firm and a product ban for another, highlight the regulator’s ongoing efforts to ensure food quality and public safety.
License Suspension for Marche Retail
Marche Retail Pvt Ltd, a private retail firm based in New Delhi, has had its food business license suspended for 30 days. An inspection by the FSSAI identified significant lapses in the company’s operations. Key findings included poor sanitation practices, inadequate personal hygiene among staff, and a failure to maintain mandatory records. During this 30-day suspension, the company is required to stop all food-related business activities. The firm must address these deficiencies and demonstrate full compliance with safety norms before it can resume operations.
Adulteration Findings at SDP Industries
In a separate enforcement case, Daman-based SDP Industries Pvt Ltd has been issued a prohibition order preventing it from selling any ghee variants. The regulatory action follows laboratory analysis of the company's ghee products, marketed under the brand names 'Shraddha,' 'Shree Saras,' and 'Gokul.' Testing confirmed the presence of β-sitosterol, a plant-derived fat that should not be present in pure dairy ghee. The test results indicated the use of foreign or vegetable fats in products labeled as ghee, which is a violation of food safety standards. The company is now required to halt all sales of these products and remove them from the market immediately.
Impact on the Food Industry
These enforcement actions against Marche Retail and SDP Industries are part of a wider trend of increased scrutiny by the FSSAI. The regulator has been intensifying its monitoring of the food and retail sectors, issuing notices to both large and small companies for issues ranging from false labeling to misleading advertisements. While these two companies are private and unlisted, the FSSAI has also targeted major players in the food service and retail space, including large restaurant chains and e-commerce platforms, in recent months.
For the food industry, this environment means that regulatory compliance is becoming a critical operational focus. Failure to meet standards can result in immediate disruption, as seen with these two companies. Moving forward, the key monitorable will be the companies' ability to rectify their safety and quality control processes to satisfy regulatory requirements.