Food department investigates Feni shop After a viral video
A video showing a vermicelli (feni) shop owner allegedly picking up fallen pieces from the road and placing them back in a basket for sale has sparked outrage on social media. The 29-second clip captures a man sweeping the road in front of his shop in Mangalwara, Bhopal, and then picking up fallen pieces of feni and returning them to a basket on the counter.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on July 4 in the Old City area of Bhopal. Following the video’s spread, a district food safety team inspected the shop and discovered it had been operating without the mandatory food safety registration for over five years.
Shop Owner's Response
The shop owner, identified as Zubeer, claimed he applied for registration on July 6, likely in response to the viral video and potential repercussions. The district food safety team has since collected samples of feni from the shop for laboratory testing. Zubeer received the necessary food department registration on July 11.
Registration and Fines
According to officials, the registration process for small shops is conducted online, with registration typically granted within seven days of application. Despite this, the shopkeeper will face fines for operating without registration. If the collected samples are found to be sub-standard, a separate case will be initiated.
Legal Proceedings
A case in the ADM court for operating the shop without proper registration will proceed once the sample report is available. Officials indicated that fines could range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2 lakh, depending on the severity of the offence. Given the long period the shop was unregistered, stringent fines are anticipated.
FDA Investigation
FDA official Devendra Dubey confirmed that the shop was operating without a license during their inspection. The Feni samples have been sent for testing, and appropriate action will follow if any issues are identified. The FDA will also present the viral video as evidence during court hearings. The shopkeeper has been instructed to keep the shop closed until the license is issued.
Awaiting Sample Report
The sample report is expected within 20 days. There is currently no provision to penalize the shop owner solely based on the viral video of him picking up feni from the road, officials added.
Source: Inputs from various media SourcesÂ
