FSSAI suspends licence of 15 FBOs including Lite Bite Foods in Kerala

Food safety and standards authority of India has suspended the licences of 15 food business operators in Kerala.

These operators failed to comply with the requisite mandatory safety audits despite repeated reminders.

FSSAI has directed carrying out of audits of FBOs through private auditing agencies to strengthen the food safety surveillance system.

In a statement on Tuesday, the food safety body mentioned that even after repeated intimation and issuance of improvement notices twice, the 15 FBOs belonging to the Kerala region have not conducted any third-party food safety audits.

"Non-compliance of mandatory audits by above FBOs in high risk food business operations has been viewed seriously and their FSSAI licence has been suspended with effect from September 13 fore-noon by Central Designated Officer, Kerala & Lakshadweep in accordance with section 32 (2) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 rules and regulations made thereunder," shared the statement.

These businesses are spread across Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kannur, Malappuram, Wayanad and Palakkad.

These include Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel & Spa, Thiruvananthapuram; Lite Bite Foods Pvt Ltd, Kannur; and Kovalam Resort Pvt Ltd, The Leela Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram. The Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulations, 2018, mandate annual third-party food safety audits of food businesses falling under six high risk categories by an FSSAI-recognised agency.