Alcohol-free beer? Not ones sold in Rajkot

When people began queuing up at retail stores on Vaniyawadi Main Road and Khijadia Road that sells imported chocolates and non-alcoholic beer, officials of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation smelt something fishy. And, rightly so. Tests revealed that some of the tins of non-alcoholic beer contained alcohol. 

The retailers sold non-alcoholic beer of various brands like Van Pur, Heineken, Bavaria Holland, and Edelmeister, said Amit Panchal, RMC food department official, who along with Health Committee Chairman Jaimin Thaker raided the stores some days ago.

They took samples of the drinks, which is sold for Rs 80 or Rs 90, from four outlets and sent it to the government laboratory for testing. The test report, which came back on Wednesday, revealed that the sample collected from Shiv Shakti Traders showed the presence of alcohol in the half-litre non-alcoholic tins sold under the brand Van Pur.

Shiv Shakti Traders and Gurukrupa Sales both were found guilty of misbranding as tins of Heineken, Bavaria Holland and Edelmeister did not have Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) logo which is mandatory. The tins were imported but it had no information about the importer’s name, address or date printed on it.

Sunil Sindhi, owner of Shiv Shakti Traders, confirmed that RMC took samples but claimed that they have not been informed of the report. “We are just buying from wholesalers and reselling the products,” he clarified.

Panchal said the retailers found guilty of selling these products will be tried in court and fined up to Rs 5 lakh as per the law.

Source:- https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/grocery/alcohol-free-beer-not-ones-sold-in-rajkot/70498242

Comments

0