KATHMANDU, Oct 4: The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) has sealed two beverage companies based in Banepa of Kavre district on Wednesday for bottling and selling drinking water below the minimum standards.

The department has sealed Pancha Beverage Pvt Ltd and Buddhaland Melamchi Mineral Water Pvt Ltd for their gross negligence in bottling jars of drinking water. Both the firms were found not to be maintaining basic sanitation during the bottling process.

The quality of water processed by the firms was found to be below the minimum criteria of drinking.

Both of the companies were yet to renew their industry operation licenses. The department has prohibited both the companies to produce bottled water.

The department had conducted the inspection under a newly launched government initiative, Food safety and Quality Campaign 2018. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had announced the campaign a week ago on September 27, keeping in mind the need for proper market regulation and protection of consumer rights.

 
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