The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) filed cases against 53 business firms operating in the Valley last year. 

It said most of the firms facing the action were related to bottled water and dairy production. Of them, 25 were charged with selling substandard water.

Purna Chandra Wasti, spokesperson for the department, said they found the some bottled water samples were contaminated with choliform bacteria, while others had low pH value and lacked operating licences.

Himal Mineral Water was charged with maintaining volume of water against the supposed quantity. Global Food and Beverage, Nilkantha Natural Spring Water, Greenvery Mineral Water and Himalayan Spring Water were charged with selling contaminated water. Similarly, products of Danfe Mineral Water, Godavari Mineral Water Product, AB Beverage, Glacier Food and Beverage, Rainbow Mineral Water were also found substandard. 

The contamination was also seen in water sold by Bhakti Food Industries, Global Food and Beverage and Greenland Mineral Water. Nischal Mineral Water was found selling its products without taking operating licence.

“Similarly, the dairy products were contaminated with choliform bacteria and had insufficient SNF (solid-not-fat),” said Wasti. 

DFTQC carried out cross-checks at 576 firms from the Valley last year. Of them, 325 were food producers. Wasti said many of the food sellers failed to maintain hygiene standard.

Meanwhile, the DFTQC last week destroyed 208kg of khuwa, a dairy product, from Bishnu Store in Chapagaun, Lalitpur. 

Of the seven food sellers the department inspected last week, more than half were found not maintaining the standard. Wasti said they have asked Janaki Mithai, Gwarko and Manju Sweet and Chat, Balaju to meet the standard.