Himalayan Snax asked to halt production
KATHMANDU, Oct 21:
Regional Food Technology and Quality Control Office (RFTQCO) in Bhairahawa has ordered Himalayan Snax and Noodles, the producer of Mayos -- a leading instant noodles brand -- to stop productions from its plant based in Kampaniya of Rupandehi until further notice after it was found ignoring the office´s instruction to improve hygiene in the production facilities.
A joint market inspection team of the office and District Administration Office issued the order on Thursday. The company was producing four different brands of noodles, including Mayos, from the plant.
\"The instruction has been issued after consulting the chief district officer,\" Kishore KC, chief of RFTQCO told Republica. According to KC, the office had repeatedly asked the company to improve sanitation in the production plant. \"Its machines leak oil and they are not cleaned properly. This has been affecting the quality of noodles that are consumed by a large number of people.\"
Some three weeks ago also, the office had asked the company to remove the waste materials and keep the plant in proper condition.
The inspection team on Thursday had also found the company using sub-standard raw materials. Date expired noodles were also found in the premises. \"Those (date expired noodles) were in ready-to-eat packs,\" said KC.
The team had also found the weighing machines used in the factory of not being certified by Nepal Bureau of Standard and Metrology (NBSM) and RFTQCO. The RFTQCO has asked the company to furnish clarification within seven days.
Meanwhile, a joint inspection team of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) in the capital on Thursday sealed Nepo Minerals Water Company´s plant at Naxal after it was found operating without due license from DFTQC.
The water bottling company was registered with the government to operate in Duwakot of Bhaktapur. \"But it had not renewed its registration since the last four years,\" said Jeevan Prabha Lama, director general of DFTQC.
The department has asked the company to furnish written clarification to DFTQC within three days. \"We will take action against the company as per the Food Act,\" Lama added.
Similarly, another inspection team destroyed 200 liters of edible oil kept stored at New Prem Store in Bhaktapur-15. According to Lama, the team destroyed Post Man, Shakti, Family, Rajhansa and Swastik brand edible oil with expired consumption dates.
Source: Republica
