The Allahabad High Court has called on the principal secretary of the food and civil supplies department in Uttar Pradesh to detail the measures being taken to curb the sale of “sub-standard” namkeens (savoury snacks). The court’s directive aims to address concerns over the health implications of such products being sold for human consumption.
A bench comprising Justice V K Birla and Justice Arun Kumar Singh, on September 5, highlighted the serious health risks posed by the practice of repackaging and selling rejected namkeens intended for cattle feed. The judges noted that these products are being mixed with other snacks and sold in the open market, posing a significant health risk to the public.
Expanding the scope of the public interest litigation (PIL) beyond just a local issue to a national concern, the court has also involved the central government, specifically the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. This move underscores the gravity of the issue, which transcends district boundaries and affects public health across the nation.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 20, 2024, and expects a comprehensive response from both the state and central authorities. During the recent hearing, compliance affidavits were filed by food safety officers from Kanpur and Bareilly, along with the commissioner of food safety and drug administration of Uttar Pradesh.
Further, the court has acknowledged the intervention of high court lawyer Ashutosh Kumar Tiwari, whose contributions have provided crucial information for the resolution of the case. The court emphasized the importance of stringent action against the individuals and manufacturing units responsible for producing and distributing these sub-standard products.
