No hygiene rating: Punjab issues notice to food delivery apps

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has issued a show-cause notice to online aggregators and food business operators (FBOS) asking them why ban should not be imposed on those supplying food without getting hygiene rating done.

The notice has been issued by commissioner, food and drug administration, KS Pannu in exercise of powers vested under Section 30(2) (a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. “It has been proposed to prohibit online food supply aggregators from sourcing the food from FBOS sans proper hygiene rating, he said in an official statement. The aggregators and operators have been asked to submit their objections by January 30.

Pannu said online food delivery aggregators were distributing, selling or supplying food to consumers after sourcing the same from FBO. “This mechanism of distribution, sale, supply of food by online food supply aggregators has obliterated the system of responsibility of maintaining the quality of food, which till now was being directly verified by the consumers from the food business operators at his counter,” he said.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued instructions vide which the system of hygiene rating of the food business operators has been introduced and various agencies were empanelled to conduct the hygiene rating of the FBOS, said Pannu, adding FDA, Punjab, had advised all the online food supply aggregators in May last year to ensure that the FBOS from where they were sourcing the food for distribution to consumers should be asked to get the hygiene rating of their business done.