Notices to Zomato, Swiggy for Delivering Non-Veg Food in Haridwar

The food safety officer said that the two companies appear to be violating the by-laws of the holy city, which prohibit the sale of non-veg food within city limits.

(Photo: The Quint)

The Food Safety Authority of the Uttarakhand health department has served notices to officials of Swiggy and Zomato for delivering non-veg food in Haridwar. It’s considered a violation of municipal norms to deliver non-veg food in the restricted areas of the holy city, The Times of India reported.

Haridwar’s deputy food safety officer, RS Pal, told The Times of India that the matter came to light when local residents complained to the city magistrate.

An investigation was launched after that and the two companies failed to show Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, their license to the teams that had gone to inspect their offices. Pal also said that the firms had not obtained a no-objection certificate from the municipal corporation to deliver non-veg products.

The food safety officer further told the daily that the two companies appear to be violating the by-laws of the holy city, which prohibit the sale of non-veg food within city limits.

Zomato, when reached out to by TOI, said that it has been working with the FSSAI over the past year, and has already applied for a license for its operations in Haridwar.

A Swiggy spokesperson was quoted by the daily as saying that it has addressed the issue and as of 16 March 2019, it is only delivering vegetarian food in the city.

(With inputs from The Times of India.)