Food Safety raids destroy lakhs in adulterated products ahead of festivals

The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has launched a major crackdown on adulteration in Muzzafarnagar district ahead of the upcoming Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami festivals. The operation, conducted under the directions of the Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration, Uttar Pradesh, resulted in the collection of 18 legal samples and the destruction and seizure of food materials worth lakhs of rupees.

Led by Assistant Commissioner Food Archana Dheeran and the Chief Food Safety Officer, inspection teams raided several mawa manufacturing units in the villages of Bhaisaredi and Dhansani. At Bhaisaredi, six legal samples of mawa, milk, and Skimmed Milk Powder were collected from units operated by Atikur Rahman, Shahnawaz, and Devendrapal. Late at night, the team moved to Dhansani village where they inspected units run by Salmuddin, Shamsuddin, Mirajuddin, and Shakeel, collecting samples of mawa, vanaspati, SMP, mixed milk, and interesterified vegetable fat. All 18 samples have been sent to the laboratory for testing, and further action will be taken based on the reports.

During the operation, food items found unfit for human consumption and stored in unhygienic conditions were destroyed on the spot in public interest. The department destroyed approximately 420 litres of milk valued at Rs 25,200 and 510 kilograms of mawa worth Rs 1,37,800. Additionally, around 490 kilograms of SMP powder valued at Rs 2,23,840 and 50 kilograms of vanaspati worth Rs 8,810 were seized as per regulations.

Establishments found using vanaspati along with SMP in mawa production were immediately shut down. Food Safety Officers Sandeep Singh, Vaibhav Sharma, Sunil Kumar, Dr. Ashwini Kumar, Dr. Vishal Chaudhary, Neha Chaudhary, Poonam Kumari, Bhogendra, Avdhesh, Mahavir Singh Premi, and Nishikant Singh participated in the operation. Officials have clarified that the campaign against food adulteration will continue throughout the festive season, sending a strong warning to those involved in such practices.