A shopkeeper from Sarkaghat in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, faced legal action after selling Namkeen that failed to meet food safety standards. The case was initiated by the Mandi District Food Safety Department, which had sent samples of the Namkeen sold by the shopkeeper for testing. The lab results revealed that the sulfur oxide levels in the product exceeded the permissible limits, making it unfit for consumption.

Despite the initial findings, the shopkeeper objected to the test results and requested a second examination. In response, the department sent fresh samples to a lab in Kandaghat, where all such samples are tested. Unfortunately for the shopkeeper, the second test also confirmed that the Namkeen was substandard.

Diary Times is now on Whatsapp Channels. Click here to join

In addition to the failed tests, the shopkeeper was unable to produce a purchase bill from the supplier of the faulty Namkeen. This lack of documentation raised further concerns, prompting the Food Safety Department to file the case for legal action. After receiving government approval, the case was brought before the Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Sarkaghat.

During the court proceedings, the shopkeeper admitted his mistake. As a result, the court issued a sentence requiring the shopkeeper to stand in the court premises for a full day and imposed a fine of ₹10,000.

LD Thakur, the Assistant Commissioner of the Food Safety Department, confirmed that the shopkeeper had served his sentence and paid the fine. Thakur also issued a warning to other shopkeepers in the district, urging them to ensure the quality of the food products they sell. He advised them to keep purchase bills from their suppliers and to only offer safe, high-quality food to consumers.