FIFA U-17 World Cup: Probe ordered into substandard snacks served in Guwahati

The Guwahati city administration has ordered a magisterial probe into substandard snacks served at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, the venue for Group E matches of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup. The probe followed complaints lodged by officials and spectators.

“A four-member committee that includes the chief food security officer conducted an investigation into the quality of snacks such as popcorn being prepared, packed and sold,” Kamrup (Metropolitan) deputy commissioner M Angamuthu said.

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Preliminary investigation revealed a Delhi-based firm named Standard Sweet and Caterers was given the contract to serve snacks during the tournament. But the firm gave a sub-contract to one Rahul Kumar of Thakurpukur in Kolkata, who in turn assigned the job to Bipul Saha of Barasat. Saha then gave the responsibility of producing, packing and selling the snacks to Kolkata’s Mani Mohan Biswas.

“Our team inspected a factory near the stadium where the snacks were being produced. The factory was sealed for not adhering to food safety norms,” Angamuthu said.

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The vendors, officials said, would be penalised after the probe is completed.

For Guwahati, hosting international sporting events, this is the second embarrassment in two days. On Tuesday, the Australian cricket team bus was damaged when miscreants pelted stones after the second T20I against India at the Barsapara cricket stadium here.