The Allahabad High Court has expressed serious concern over selling rejected snacks from branded companies, which are for animal feed, mixed with other snacks, and sold in the open market for human consumption.
The court deemed this practice dangerous to public health and directed both the Central and State governments to take strict action against those involved in the production and supply of such snacks.
Additionally, the court also requested a detailed affidavit on the actions taken. The court has scheduled the next hearing of the public interest litigation (PIL) for 20 September.
Insights
A bench of Justice VK Birla and Justice AK Singh Deshwal issued this order during the hearing of a suo motu public interest petition.
Given the gravity of selling harmful snacks in the market for human consumption, the court ordered the inclusion of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, as a party in the case.
The court also requested the Additional Solicitor General to be present at the next hearing with a report on the actions taken by the central government in this matter.
The Additional Government Advocate for the state submitted compliance affidavits on behalf of the Food and Safety Officers of Kanpur and Bareilly, as well as the Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, in response to previous court orders.
However, the court sought a detailed affidavit from the Principal Secretary of Food and Civil Supplies, Uttar Pradesh, regarding the actions taken.
Advocate Ashutosh Kumar Tiwari, who had filed an application providing critical information, was asked by the court to submit detailed data along with his arguments.
It is noteworthy that when branded companies reject snacks, they auction them off as animal feed.
The court condemned the practice of mixing rejected snacks with new ones and repackaging them for human consumption as unfit and harmful to health.
The court expanded the scope of the PIL, stating that this issue affects not just a few districts but the entire country.
Additionally, the court directed the Government of India to take action against those involved and file an affidavit detailing the steps taken.
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