Rat Row: Bread manufacturer accuses AIIMS of shifting blame

New Delhi, Oct 14: The bread manufacturer which was yesterday blacklisted by AIIMS authorities after a rat was found inside a sealed packet on Wednesday accused the premier institute of trying to shift its "act of negligence" onto the company.

Bonn Nutrients claimed that its facility located in Punjab's Ludhiana district is ISO certified and FSSAI approved and follows best industrial practices concerning health, safety and hygiene.

"We wish to assure that the facts as alleged by AIIMS in their notice are imaginary and cannot be possible by any stretch of imagination. "By the alleged incident perhaps AIIMS has tried to shift its own faults and negligence or acts of sabotage by which perhaps a rat was claimed to be found in the sealed packet," the company said in a statement.

The company said the matter first came to light on July 29 when it was reported that a live rat was allegedly found in a two-slice bread pack within the AIIMS' premises.

On receipt of the notice, the company's representatives rushed to AIIMS and met the officials concerned and clarified that the alleged incident could not have happened at its end for various reasons, the statement said .[AIIMS: Live rat found inside bread packet, manufacturers banned for 3 years]

"On September 15, to our utter shock and surprise, a showcause notice dated September 9 was received from AIIMS calling upon us to explain the alleged incident. "

The notice was well responded to on September 17 and it was brought to the notice of AIIMS that our manufacturing facility was ISO 22000:2005 certified and FSSAI approved and the contract for pest control is being carried out by one of the most reputed pest control agencies of India," it said.

PTI