Suspected adulterated dairy products seized in Haridwar and Rishikesh ahead of Deepawali

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun

The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) teams seized large quantities of suspected adulterated dairy products in Haridwar and Rishikesh on Tuesday as part of a Statewide crackdown ahead of the Deepawali festival. Acting on the directions of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the department has intensified inspections and raids across Uttarakhand to prevent the sale of substandard food items during the festive season, the additional commissioner Tajber Singh Jaggi said, who is overseeing the operation. He informed that in Haridwar district’s Bhagwanpur area, a joint team of the FDA and police intercepted a vehicle carrying unlabelled and unverified dairy products early Tuesday morning. The products lacked FSSAI markings and proper labelling, posing potential health risks to consumers. The team seized the items and registered a case under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, against the vehicle operator and supplier. The FDA team stopped another vehicle in Rishikesh carrying about five quintals of cream, 35 kilogrammes of ghee and 50 kilogrammes of skimmed milk powder without valid quality certificates or approval documents. Singh said that preliminary findings suggest that the products may have been transported illegally from other states. Samples have been sent to laboratories for testing and strict legal action will follow against those found guilty, he added. Singh stated that there will be no leniency toward those involved in adulteration and urged citizens to check packaging, labeling and manufacturing dates while purchasing food items and to report any suspicious products to the authorities. Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat said that the government has provided full support and resources to the FDA to ensure safe and hygienic food during the festive season. He directed officials to maintain strict vigilance and ensure swift action against offenders. FDA commissioner R Rajesh Kumar also informed that mobile testing labs are conducting spot checks on milk, ghee, paneer, mawa and sweets across all districts. He added that laboratories have been instructed to expedite sample analysis to enable prompt prosecution. He also stated that special monitoring is in place in border districts and tourist areas, including the Char Dham routes. He added that the FDA is also running public awareness campaigns to educate consumers about identifying safe food and reporting suspicious activity. He urged consumers to stay alert during the festive period and cooperate with authorities to curb adulteration in the State.