The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken decisive action, ordering the immediate closure of Ganesh Products Private Limited's manufacturing unit. This drastic measure follows a routine inspection that uncovered shocking levels of contamination and unsanitary practices, including the presence of dead rodents and widespread insect infestation in areas designated for food storage.
FSSAI officials concluded that the conditions at the facility rendered any food produced there unsafe for human consumption. Consequently, the company's license has been suspended indefinitely, effective immediately, pending further orders.
Extensive Filth and Pest Infestation Uncovered
During their visit, inspection teams documented a litany of severe violations across the processing and storage zones. Evidence of extensive filth was pervasive, including significant fungal growth, numerous cockroaches, flies, cobwebs, and accumulated grime.
Perhaps most alarming was the discovery of dead mice, rodents, and cockroaches in sections where finished products and packaging materials were stored. Inspectors also noted that critical rodent-control boxes were either missing or non-functional, indicating a severe lapse in pest management.
Substandard Practices and Structural Concerns
Beyond the direct pest problem, the inspection revealed numerous other issues compromising food safety. Finished goods were stored improperly, stacked too close to walls without adequate ventilation, and often alongside expired or unlabelled materials. Waste, rejected stock, and scrap were found left in active food-handling areas instead of being promptly removed.
Many production containers displayed rust and bore deposits of unwanted materials. The facility itself showed signs of neglect, with paint peeling from surfaces, broken floor tiles, and visible dampness in various parts of the premises. These structural defects further contributed to an environment unsuitable for food production.
Critical Lapses in Documentation and Hygiene
The Ganesh Products unit also failed to maintain essential food safety documentation. Inspectors were unable to locate records for a full year of control-sample testing, mock recall logs, consumer complaint files, internal training records, or audit reports. Basic hygiene infrastructure, such as proper handwashing facilities for staff, was also found to be lacking.
Adding to the concerns, inspectors reportedly found items like fabric whitener, industrial-grade bleaching agent, and poster white colour on site, alongside food materials such as milk powder, refined palm oil, and soybean, raising questions about potential cross-contamination and improper storage of non-food chemicals.
Officials noted that the combination of pest presence, poor sanitation, and structural defects created conditions that could directly compromise food safety and pose a public health risk.
Citing the grave nature of these violations, FSSAI invoked its authority to suspend Ganesh Products' license with immediate effect, emphasizing that this action was taken squarely in the interest of public health. The suspension will remain in force until all issues are addressed and further directives are issued by the regulatory body.