Bagmati. The Office of Food Technology and Quality Control in Hetauda is preparing to file a case against 19 entrepreneurs on the charge of adulteration in food grains.

The case has been filed against the entrepreneurs on the basis of the flaws found in the monitoring carried out by the office and its subordinate division offices and testing of the samples.

Office Chief Binita Pokharel said investigation was underway to file a case against the entrepreneurs under the Food Hygiene and Quality Act based on the flaws found in the monitoring and examination of the samples collected so far in the current fiscal year 2082/83. “We are investigating the case in coordination with the public prosecutor’s office,” he said, adding, “The case has not been registered at the court due to the Jenji agitation. The office had filed cases against 44 businessmen in the last fiscal year 2081/82.

Chief Pokharel said that cases would be filed at the district court of concerned against those involved in adulteration affecting health and selling the date-expired goods in course of testing the samples collected during the monitoring. Pokharel said that the office has so far analyzed 245 samples in the fiscal year 2082/83 and kept 200 edible and five on hold.

Chief Pokharel said that out of 365 samples tested during the period, 16 samples were found to be unfavorable.

During the monitoring, inspection and implementation of the verdict by the judicial body, 311 kilograms of goods worth Rs 102,265 were confiscated and destroyed, Pokharel said.

So far, 121 food markets, 100 food and feed industries and 56 hotels and restaurants have been monitored. The office has so far collected Rs 1 million 4,370 revenue under various headings in the fiscal year 2082/83.