Why did FSSAI suspend Switz Foods’ licence? Inspectors found multiple food safety lapses, including poor hygiene, pest infestation, and contamination risks.
India’s food safety regulator has suspended the manufacturing license of Switz Foods Pvt. Ltd. after an inspection uncovered multiple violations of food safety and hygiene standards at one of the company’s production facilities.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said the conditions posed a significant risk of food contamination and ordered the company to immediately halt all food business activities at the facility until the deficiencies are fully rectified.
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Understanding FSSAI’s Role in Food Safety
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) () is the country’s apex food safety regulator, established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Functioning under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it sets food safety standards, regulates food businesses, and ensures that food sold in India is safe, hygienic, and meets quality norms.
FSSAI can suspend or cancel a food business license if inspections uncover serious violations that pose a risk to public health. These include unhygienic manufacturing conditions, pest infestation, poor sanitation, cross-contamination, improper storage, misleading labelling, or repeated non-compliance with food safety regulations.
Depending on the severity of the violations, the regulator may issue an improvement notice, suspend operations until corrective measures are taken, or cancel the licence altogether.
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FSSAI Finds Multiple Food Safety Violations
Switz Foods is known for manufacturing frozen and ready-to-cook products, including samosa pattis, spring roll sheets, puff pastry, parathas, and other bakery items sold across India and overseas. The suspension affects operations at the inspected facility until FSSAI verifies compliance with food safety regulations.
According to FSSAI, inspectors found food being manufactured, packed, and stored under unhygienic conditions that could increase the risk of contamination. The regulator identified several serious deficiencies across the facility, including poor sanitation, pest infestation, and inadequate maintenance of food-contact equipment.
Among the findings were flies, mosquitoes, and cobwebs in production areas, water leaking over product storage spaces, broken flooring, grease accumulation, and non-functional cleaning equipment. Inspectors also reported that machinery, trays, trolleys, molds, kettles, and crates were not being cleaned properly, while raw materials and semi-finished products were left uncovered in several locations.
The inspection also highlighted concerns about product handling and traceability. FSSAI found inadequate segregation between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food products, as well as between raw, semi-finished, and finished foods.
Some raw materials and intermediate products lacked proper date markings, while at least one ready-to-eat chicken sandwich reportedly did not carry mandatory labelling information required under food safety regulations. These lapses, the regulator said, could compromise both food safety and consumer confidence.
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FSSAI Orders Operations to Stop Until Compliance
Following the inspection, FSSAI suspended Switz Foods’ license under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The company has been instructed to stop all food manufacturing and related business activities at the affected unit until every deficiency has been corrected and verified by the competent authority. The regulator said operations can resume only after the facility demonstrates full compliance with prescribed food safety standards.
The suspension is one of several recent enforcement actions taken by FSSAI as part of a broader effort to strengthen food safety compliance across the country. In recent weeks, the regulator has also ordered product recalls and suspended licenses of other food businesses after inspections uncovered serious hygiene and safety violations.
Food safety experts note that poor sanitation, pest infestation, improper storage, and cross-contamination are among the leading causes of foodborne illnesses. Manufacturing facilities are required to maintain strict hygiene standards, ensure equipment is regularly sanitized, prevent contamination between different food categories, and implement traceability systems for raw materials and finished products.
FSSAI’s latest action serves as a reminder that food manufacturers must comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) to ensure consumer safety. Until the identified issues are resolved, Switz Foods’ affected manufacturing unit will remain closed, while regulators continue to monitor compliance before allowing production to restart.
References:
- FSSAI ADVANCING FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS – (https://www.fssai.gov.in/)
Source-Medindia