By TC News Desk
Agartala, 2nd May 2024: Expired food items have been found scattered across various shops in Agartala city. The administration has been actively responding to the complaints of the common people conducting inspections wherever allegations surface.
The enforcement team of Sadar sub-divisional administration on Wednesday conducted a raid on a shop named SS Link Center, located near the Prantik Club in Dhaleswar area here. The raid resulted in the recovery of a significant amount of expired chocolates and drinks.
The shop owner identified as Bapan failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the presence of expired food items in his shop. Further allegations against Bapan include overcharging customers by 5 rupees per drink bottle under the pretext of freezing charges. Local sources report that Bapan has been conducting his business in this unscrupulous manner for an extended period.
The majority of the recovered food items had expired in December of the previous year, while some had expired as recently as March. Consumption of these expired items has reportedly led to numerous instances of food poisoning.
The Food Department has announced that the recovered items will be sent to a lab for further analysis. All findings will be reported to the Sadar Sub-Divisional Magistrate. Food Controller Pradip Kumar Bhowmik has assured that strict action will be taken against such dishonest business practices.
Meanwhile, residents of Agartala city and the entire state are grappling with intense heat. As people turn to cold drinks for respite, they unknowingly fall prey to unscrupulous businessmen exploiting the situation. The enforcement team, led by Chief Food Controller Pradip Kumar Bhowmik and including Food Inspectors Debajyoti Chakraborty, Sharmistha Das, and Food Safety Officer Bishnupada Jamatia, is working diligently to curb such malpractices.
