Kanpur: The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) on Thursday raided three samosa manufacturing units in Rail Bazar and destroyed 3,200 uncooked samosas, 1.5 quintals of rotten potatoes and 25kg of potato filling found stored in unhygienic conditions.The team also sealed one of the units and seized 2,384kg of maida stored in 48 sacks.The action was taken on the directions of district magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh following a tip-off received by food safety officials. A special team led by the chief food safety officer inspected the units, which allegedly supplied samosas to railway canteens and shops.Assistant commissioner (Food)-II Sanjay Pratap Singh said the team first inspected the manufacturing unit of Nirmal Kumar Mishra, where 1.5 quintals of rotten potatoes and 400 uncooked samosas were found. The material was destroyed on the spot. Samples of chilli powder, turmeric powder and prepared samosas were also collected for testing.At the unit operated by Bantu Yadav, officials found 800 uncooked samosas and 5kg of potato filling stored in unhygienic conditions. These were also destroyed. Yadav, however, failed to appear despite repeated summons and could not produce the food licence. The unit was subsequently sealed.The third unit, operated by Mohammad Shoaib at Hata No. 2 in Rail Bazar, was found storing 2,000 uncooked samosas and 20kg of prepared potato filling in unhygienic conditions. The material was destroyed.Officials also collected samples of maida, refined palmolein oil and potato filling from the unit and seized 2,384kg of maida kept in 48 sacks.Singh said a total of six food samples were collected during the raids and would be sent to a laboratory for examination. Further action against the food business operators would be taken on the basis of the laboratory reports, he added.
