Checks on 48 vehicles find 22 quintals of foul-smelling khoya and 28 quintals of paneer
Food Safety Department's "Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai" campaign against adulteration continues
So far, 1,533 inspections and 731 food samples collected statewide; licenses of 32 establishments suspended
Sweets made near a toilet in one place, moldy ghevar and expired ingredients in another
Sweet-making units exposed in Bareilly and Moradabad; FIRs against adulterators in Bulandshahr and Mathura too
Lucknow, November 2026 : To stop adulterated and unsafe food items from reaching people's plates during Diwali, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) is carrying out enforcement action across the state. Under the department's "Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai" campaign, vehicles were intensively checked at about 12 toll plazas and major intersections, while raids on units making sweets and other food items uncovered serious cases of adulteration and filth. During the vehicle checks, 48 vehicles carrying food items were examined. In Kanpur Nagar, about 22 quintals of foul-smelling khoya was seized, and in Hapur, about 28 quintals of paneer being transported in unhygienic conditions was caught. During the campaign, about 60 quintals of food items stored or transported in unsafe and unhygienic conditions were destroyed. Meanwhile, the licenses of 32 establishments across the state have so far been suspended and their businesses shut down over serious irregularities.
Action at toll plazas, large consignments of khoya and paneer seized
In a special vehicle-checking drive conducted with police assistance to curb the illegal and unsafe transport of food items, large quantities of suspicious food material were caught in various districts. In Mau, 230 kilograms of unsafe khoya was recovered, while in Kanpur Nagar about 22 quintals of foul-smelling khoya was seized. In Rampur, 350 liters of milk and in Hapur about 28 quintals of paneer were found being transported in unhygienic conditions. Paneer was also seized in Barabanki and Unnao. In Gautam Buddha Nagar, samples of suspicious paneer were taken and sent for testing.
During a raid on a hideout of a food trader in Moradabad who had previously been banned, adulterants and chemicals used for adulterating food items were recovered. An FIR has been registered in this case. FIRs have also been filed in Bulandshahr, Mathura and Moradabad after adulterants and chemicals were found.
Sweets made near a toilet in Bareilly, mold and rat filth in Moradabad
Under the campaign, 32 mobile food squads sent from the headquarters level carried out special enforcement action in Bareilly and Moradabad. In addition, inter-district teams formed at the divisional level also conducted inspections in Kasganj, Etawah, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Kushinagar and Shahjahanpur. These actions brought to light many serious cases of neglect of hygiene and food safety standards in sweet-making units.
Extreme filth was found at the manufacturing unit of New Bajpai Sweets in Subhash Nagar, Bareilly. A toilet was found operating right next to the furnace used for making sweets. The floor was broken and the premises were flooded with contaminated water. Due to serious hygiene lapses, action was taken to suspend the establishment's license.
At Dheeraj Sweets and Confectionery in Kailashpuri in the same district, old and moldy ghevar was found. Here too, sweets were being made in unhealthy conditions amid filth. Action was taken to suspend the unit's license for serious violations of food safety standards.
Expired ingredients and non-edible colors in Moradabad's sweet units
At the white rasgulla manufacturing unit of Hukumat Milk Cake, near Dhakia, Dilari in Moradabad, food items were being made in unsafe conditions. Food material was found scattered in a contaminated state. License suspension action was taken.
At Madni Sweets near Kohinoor Tiraha, expired food items were being used in food preparation. Serious deficiencies were also found at the unit, including the presence of rats and their droppings, the use of non-edible colors, and the lack of proper drainage. The department took action to suspend the establishment's license.
Also in Moradabad, Beena Mishthan Bhandar on Makbari Road, near Badi Sabzi Mandi, was found operating without a food license. A rat infestation and extreme filth were found at the unit. Because of operating without a license and in unhygienic conditions, the unit's food business was shut down. At Pawan Sweets in Kasganj as well, enforcement action was taken after food items were found being made amid extreme filth and in unhealthy conditions.
So far 1,533 inspections
Under the "Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai" campaign, along with vehicle checking at toll plazas, the Food Safety Department's headquarters-level mobile teams and the inter-district teams formed at the divisional level inspected food establishments in various districts. Under the special campaign, 113 food establishments were inspected and improvement notices were issued to 76 traders to rectify deficiencies. During this period, 113 samples were also taken. On finding serious irregularities, the licenses of six establishments were suspended and their businesses shut down until improvements are made. So far, 1,533 inspections have been carried out statewide and 731 food samples have been collected for testing. During the campaign, the licenses of 32 establishments have been suspended and their businesses shut down due to serious irregularities. In addition, about 56 quintals of food items have been seized, with an estimated value of Rs 1.40 crore. Besides this, about 60 quintals of food items stored or transported in unsafe and unhygienic conditions were destroyed.
The goal is not to shut down businesses, but to ensure compliance with food safety standards
According to the department's Commissioner, Dr. Roshan Jacob, the aim of the campaign is not to shut down food traders' businesses, but to make the processes of manufacturing, storing, transporting and selling food items safe and hygienic. For this reason, when minor deficiencies are found, traders are being given improvement notices and necessary instructions. However, strict action is being taken as per rules against serious food safety irregularities. In cases of establishments that have rectified their deficiencies, license suspensions are also being lifted after inspection, and they are being permitted to resume business.
