Kohima: Food safety authorities in Kohima swept through Jail Colony on September 14 to target stores selling illicit goods. The inspection team from the Chief Medical Office identified widespread failures. Stores lacked mandatory FSSAI licenses, sold expired items, and engaged in illegal food repacking. Business owners failed to display required registration certificates or clear labels on home-based products.
Inspectors uncovered goods missing mandatory best-before dates and manufacturer addresses. Some labels even displayed expired registration numbers. Re-packers were caught operating without labels or required medical fitness certificates from registered doctors. Imported food products also turned up on shelves without the necessary importer information or FSSAI license numbers.
Retailers had even broken down bulk packets into loose, unlabeled units for sale. Designated Officer Kezhangulie Yimchunger said, "In view of being an awareness exercise, the Food Business Operators were warned for self-compliance and to be cautious about what food products are to be sold under his control."
Officials marked all non-compliant articles to be pulled from shelves and returned to suppliers. Future violations will result in outright seizure or detention of products. Authorities reminded store owners that Sections 26 and 27 of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 carry penalties for these violations. The department urged the public to avoid unlabeled products and report retailers to the Chief Medical Office in the Para-Medical Colony.
Updated at 15th September 2026 at 5:49pm
Authorities launched the sweep because of a spike in home-based businesses and the growing demand for imported goods, which officials say has increased the risk of food adulteration. The department confirmed these spot checks are just the start and plans to keep the pressure on with similar exercises moving forward.
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