Madurai Court Instructs FSSAI to Reissue Notice to AR Dairy Food
Background
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to issue a supplementary notice to AR Dairy Food. This is in relation to the supply of ghee used for making Tirupati laddus.
Case Details
The petition was filed by G. Kannan on behalf of AR Dairy Food and was heard by Justice N. Sathish Kumar. The company challenged a show-cause notice regarding their ghee supply. AR Dairy Food began supplying ghee on June 4, receiving approval for four consignments. However, four more consignments in July were rejected without explanation.
Current Status
AR Dairy Food was asked to justify why their contract should not be canceled and why they should not be blacklisted. The company responded, and the case is pending. TTD relied on lab reports from NDDB-Calf, not a recognized food safety officer under the FSSA Act, 2006.
FSSAI’s Actions
On September 20, FSSAI issued a show-cause notice questioning why the company’s Central license should not be suspended. AR Dairy Food denied the allegations in a reply filed on September 22. A subsequent notification was issued to NDDB-Calf on September 27, challenging the notice.
Doubts Revealed
Madurai Court -: Madurai Court refers to a legal court located in Madurai, a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is part of the Madras High Court, which is one of the oldest high courts in India.
FSSAI -: FSSAI stands for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. It is an organization that ensures the safety and quality of food products in India.
AR Dairy Food -: AR Dairy Food is a company that supplies dairy products, like ghee, which is clarified butter used in Indian cooking and sweets.
Tirupati Laddu -: Tirupati Laddu is a famous sweet offered as a religious offering at the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is made with ingredients like ghee, sugar, and flour.
Ghee -: Ghee is a type of clarified butter commonly used in Indian cooking and sweets. It is made by heating butter to remove the milk solids and water.
Show-cause notice -: A show-cause notice is a legal document that asks a person or company to explain or justify something, usually related to a complaint or issue.
NDDB-Calf -: NDDB-Calf refers to the National Dairy Development Board’s Central Analytical Laboratory Facility. It is a lab that tests dairy products to ensure they meet quality standards.