On 16 September 2026, Dr Praveen Kumar CH, the designated food safety officer for Dakshina Kannada district, visited the Mahila Supplementary Production and Training Centre (MSPC) located within Moodushedde Gram Panchayat limits in Mangaluru Taluk. The surprise inspection focused on the centre’s preparation of supplementary foods for Anganwadi children.
The visit followed directives issued at the second quarterly meeting of the Karnataka Development Programme, chaired by Health Minister U.T. Khader. The meeting had asked officials to verify that nutrition kits such as Pushti and millet laddu mixes meet the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
During the tour, Dr Kumar examined the cooking areas, storage facilities and hygiene practices employed by the centre staff. He reminded the personnel of the legal obligations under the 2006 Act, emphasizing the need for clean equipment, safe handling and proper temperature control while preparing the supplements.
To confirm compliance, the team collected samples of Pushti, millet laddu powder and sambar powder. The specimens have been dispatched to a certified food laboratory for chemical and microbiological analysis. The officer warned that any deviation from the prescribed quality parameters will trigger legal action based on the laboratory report.
In addition, the centre received instructions to acquire mechanised packaging equipment. Officials stressed the importance of using food‑grade plastic containers and of printing mandatory information—manufacturing date, expiry date and batch number—clearly on each pack, using appropriate labeling tools.
A formal letter outlining these requirements will be sent to the Deputy Director of the Women and Child Development Department, signalling further follow‑up and possible corrective measures.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Mangalore Today