ACB raids food safety office in Nellore amid allegations of improper licensing

Tirupati: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths have conducted raids on the office of the assistant food controller and food safety designated officer in Chandramouli Nagar, Nellore city, in response to allegations of improper food safety licence issuance.

Led by deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Mohan, the ACB sleuths conducted a surprise raid on the office. The ACB officials, along with circle inspectors Srinivas, Anjaneya Reddy, Kiran Kumar and other team members, inspected the food safety office and scrutinised its records. Several essential documents were reportedly seized during the operation and the designated officer was subjected to questioning regarding various matters related to the issuance of food safety licences.

The raid comes on the heels of a series of joint operations by the food safety officials and the Nellore Municipal Corporation health department, which unearthed cases of food adulteration in some of the city's renowned hotels and eateries. These establishments were found to be using rotten non-vegetarian items and preserving them in refrigerators without adhering to food safety standards.

Food safety licences, issued by the department, are a crucial requirement for all hotels and eateries to ensure the safety and quality of food products served to the public. However, in recent times, the ACB has received multiple complaints alleging the misuse of the food safety department's authority in granting licences to establishments. This led the ACB to launch an investigation into the food safety department's licensing process.