The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) has filed cases against 51 business firms in the first four months of the fiscal year.

Most the firms, including multinational companies, are involved in production and trading of bottled water, edible oil, cold drinks, bread and dairy products. The DFTQC tested more than 543 samples in the review period.

The department’s Hetauda office filed the highest number cases (26), followed by the Kathmandu Valley (10 cases), Biratnagar (six cases), Bhairahwa (one case), Nepalgunj (three cases), and Dhangadhi (five cases).

Seven of the registered cases are related to water, as many cases are linked with food items, six related to soft drinks, five connected with sweets and the rest are associated with other food items.

Sanjeev Kumar Karna, director general of the department, said the firms would be taken action as per the Food Act 1966.

According to the Act, those found selling food items without license shall be fined Rs1,000, while those selling low-quality products with minimal impact to health shall be penalised Rs5,000. Manufacturers of substandard foods that severely affect human health and even pose risk of death shall be fined up to Rs10,000 and slapped 2-3 years’ jail term.

The department also inspected hotels and restaurants along the highways. Of the 400 hotels and restaurants inspected, 45 were found to be “excellent”, 275 “medium quality” and 80 “low-quality”.

In the review period, the department completed inspection of hotels and restaurants along the highways in Dhading and Chitwan. It  tested 3,788 food samples there.