Consumer Voice

Food Safety

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Food Safety

Help Line for any Food Safety related complaints

Dear Consumers,

In case you find any food item adulterated/contaminated/ rotten/stale/impure/ misbranded or improperly packaged, in the market place, please dont hesitate to complain and exercise your right. Bring the specific case to the notice of the manufacturer/ Consumer Courts/ Government or other consumers i.e., people at large who are also buyers of these products and ultimate determinants of the fate of such products.

Even though government systems and the law of food adulteration is consumer unfriendly, you can complain to make a difference. Consumer Voice can guide or assist you to exercise your rights. By complaining you can, curb the malpractices adopted by manufacturers retailers, dealers, hoteliers and shopkeepers who sell unsafe food in the markets. You have a right for safe food. Please exercise this right. As a consumer you may overlook making a complaint either because the value of the food article is small or you dont know where to complain or feel no one will bother. When you come across such an instance of a family member, colleague or friend suffering on account of such foods, call Consumer Voice Help line or write to us. We suggest the following steps to make a difference:

Alternate Action #1 :

Get the name and complete postal address of the manufacturer. In case of a food item it is obligatory for a manufacturer to mention the address on any packaged food item under 32-c rule of the PFA Rules. Also note the name of the shop or retailer who has sold the food to you.

Locate the cash memo or receipt for purchase of the food item. Remember, if you cant locate the receipt, the retailer can always defend himself by saying that the food item may not have been bought from him.

Write one letter (a sample letter is available) in four copies addressing it to 1. The chief Executive Officer of the Manufacturer, 2. The proprietor of the retailer, 3. The officer in charge of the State Government responsible for implementation of the PFA in your State/City (A list of Officers in charge of PFA in each state is available). Post the three copies of the letter under postal Certificate (UPC). Keep one copy in your record along with the UPC.

Preserve the food item in a food grade polybag along with its container, package, receipt etc. and keep it with you.

Alternate Action # 2
1.	If you do not get any response in two or three weeks it may mean that either they have chosen to ignore the complaint or there is postal delay. If you intend to pursue the complaint please send a second reminder to the same three persons by post by UPC . A sample of the reminder letter is available.
2.	You may still not get any response or get an unsatisfactory response. If there is no response within a reasonable it may be because our laws are weak and there is no effective implementation or enforcement to curb this malpractice. The entire legal process is very time consuming. The only alternative is to draw the attention of the manufacturer and their Chamber of Commerce and publicize the whole matter.
3.	You may still not get any response or get an unsatisfactory response. If there is no response within a reasonable it may be because our laws are weak and there is no effective implementation or enforcement to curb this malpractice. The entire legal process is very time consuming. The only alternative is to draw the attention of the manufacturer and their Chamber of Commerce and publicize the whole matter.

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