- Inspections at VKC Nuts and Chheda Specialities Foods revealed serious food safety violations, including live insects and heavy black mould in storage areas.
- The FSSAI partially suspended VKC Nuts' licence and fully suspended Chheda Specialities Foods' licence with immediate effect due to serious violations.
- The overall compliance score for VKC Nuts was recorded at 38%, indicating significant deficiencies in food safety management.
- Chheda Specialities Foods recorded a critical non-compliance score of 42%, highlighting severe food safety issues.
- At VKC Nuts, live insects were found in pistachios, and mould was observed on walls and ceilings of storage areas.
- The inspection revealed unhygienic conditions including dirty flooring, rat droppings, and damaged machinery.
- Chheda Specialities Foods was found with food handlers mixing dough with bare hands on contaminated floors.
- The inspection at Chheda also noted extensive fungal growth and inadequate waste management practices.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken decisive action against VKC Nuts and Chheda Specialities Foods, suspending their licenses due to alarming food safety violations.34
At VKC Nuts, inspections revealed live insects in pistachios and heavy black mould in storage areas, with an overall compliance score of 38%. The facility was found to have rat droppings, damaged machinery, and unhygienic conditions that could jeopardize public health.12578
The FSSAI noted, “The overall compliance score of the unit has been recorded as 38 per cent indicating significant deficiencies in the food safety management system, which may pose a grave and imminent risk to public health and safety.”
Similarly, Chheda Specialities Foods faced a 42% non-compliance score after inspectors found food handlers mixing dough with bare hands on contaminated floors and extensive fungal growth around oil storage tanks.910
The FSSAI stated, “The suspension shall remain in force until the FBO implements comprehensive corrective measures, including effective sanitation and hygiene practices, pest control, waste management, infrastructure repairs, staff training, and demonstrates full compliance with the FSS Act, 2006 and applicable regulations.”
Both companies must address these critical issues to regain their licenses and ensure food safety standards are met.
“VKC Nuts scored 38% compliance, with live insects in pistachios and rat droppings in storage. Chheda Specialities scored 42% (36/86), with food handlers mixing dough bare-handed and expired products stored beside raw materials.”
