FSSAI is concerned about food safety and hygiene status of meat and sweet shops.
Some of the areas the auditing will be carried out for includes checking to ensure shops are away from areas where meats and sweets can be contaminated.
FSSAI has extended the last date for conducting an audit of meat/sweet shops to 31st March 2021 beyond which no further extension would be considered.
FSSAI is also using the services of third-party auditing agencies to strengthen the food safety surveillance system and encourage self-compliance while at the same time assuring safe food to the consumers.
The Audit would be conducted with the help of recognised private audit agencies as well as by the FSSAI designated officers (DOs) and food safety officers (FSOs).
For meat shops, the audits could include the hygienic condition of the shops and overall cleanliness, adequate space for slaughter, the condition of chopping block and instruments used in meat chopping.
For sweet shops, some of the auditing criteria would include an inspection of storage conditions, raw materials, food colours, etc.
Hygienic ratings will include personal hygiene of the workers in the meat and sweet shops, hand washing arrangements, condition of the shops including presence of screen, pest control facility including over drains are some of the other areas where auditing would be carried out.
With the audit of meat and sweet shops, consumers would become aware of what they are consuming and from where they can purchase safe food products.
