A joint market monitoring team of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DoFTQC) and District Administration Office (DAO), Kathmandu sealed Shree Krishna Beverage of Gothatar, Sital Jal Industry of Gothathar, Crystal Drinks and Beverage of Chaalnakhel and Chandeswori Mineral Water and Beverage. [break]
The team had raided around half a dozen water industries in Kathmandu on Sunday after complaints were filed at the DAO that many companies were sending unhygienic water to the market.
“We sealed the companies after we found that they were not following the standards prescribed by the government,” Pramod Koirala, spokesperson for DoFTQC, said.
The team has found harmful bacteria like fecal coliform and Escherichia coli bacterium in samples of package water produced by these companies.
Officials at the department say these bacteria directly affect consumers´ health.
Meanwhile, DoFTQC has asked promoter of all four companies to furnish clarification at the department at the earliest. “We will allow them to resume production only after we are convinced that they are following the standards prescribed by the government,” said Koirala.
Earlier on Saturday, the department directed two water bottling plants in Nepalgunj to halt productions. According to officials at the department, they ordered promoters of YK Water and Shree Jal Drinking Water to stop production after they were found flouting the standards set by the government.
A team deployed by the department had monitored more than half a dozen water bottling plants in Nepalgunj after complaints were filed against them at the DAO, Banke.
The department has intensified market monitoring in different parts of the country as the government has put emphasis on market monitoring in the recently unveiled budget for 2013/14.
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