New Delhi, August 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has suspended the licences of VKC Nuts Private Limited in Uttar Pradesh and Chheda Specialities Foods Private Limited in Maharashtra after inspections found serious violations of food safety and hygiene standards.
The regulator said on Saturday that the action was taken with immediate effect in the interest of public health after critical non-compliances were detected at both facilities.
At VKC Nuts, inspectors reportedly found live insects in pistachios kept in the finished-goods area, extensive mould and fungal growth in the raw-material storage section, rodent droppings across the premises and evidence of pest damage to stored food products.
The inspection also found rusted and damaged machinery, inadequate sanitation, ineffective pest-control measures and poor segregation of raw materials, work-in-progress material and finished products.
Some cartons containing raw materials reportedly did not carry batch numbers or manufacturing and expiry details. Expired cranberry stock was also found in the finished-goods area.
FSSAI said the facility recorded a compliance score of only 38 per cent, reflecting significant deficiencies in its food safety management system. Its licence has been partially suspended under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, until further orders.
At Chheda Specialities Foods, inspectors found unhygienic food-handling practices, including workers mixing besan dough with their bare hands and handling food near decomposing waste.
The inspection also detected fungal growth around edible-oil storage tanks, inadequate waste disposal arrangements, roof leakages, stagnant water, damaged flooring and ineffective pest-control measures.
Raw and packaging materials were reportedly stored directly on wet and dusty floors, while several food containers lacked appropriate labelling and traceability information.
FSSAI further said multiple food samples collected during earlier inspections had been declared either “unsafe” or “misbranded”, with legal proceedings in those cases still pending.
The Maharashtra facility recorded a compliance score of 42 per cent.
Its licence will remain suspended until the company implements comprehensive corrective measures covering sanitation, pest control, waste management, infrastructure maintenance and staff training, and demonstrates compliance with applicable food safety regulations.
FSSAI said it would continue enforcement action across the food sector to protect consumers and ensure adherence to food safety standards.
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