In a week-long coordinated operation, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) deployed 24 special enforcement teams to conduct surprise inspections at dairy and dairy-product manufacturing units in Ghaziabad, Mathura and Saharanpur. The operation resulted in action against 25 manufacturing units, while three other units were found non-operational, stated a press release by the FSDA officials on Friday.
The inspections revealed large quantities of food material allegedly manufactured or stored under unsafe and unhygienic conditions. A total of six FIRs have been registered. Five relate to allegations including the use of industrial chemicals and palmolin/refined vegetable oil in paneer production and preparation of food under unhygienic conditions.
Officials destroyed 7,686 kg of food material at the spot, with an estimated value of nearly ₹ 10 lakh. In addition, enforcement teams seized 2,131 kg of food material and suspected adulterants, estimated to be worth around ₹ 4.75 lakh. Thus, the operation covered a total of 9,817 kg of food material and adulterants through seizure or destruction. The enforcement teams collected 72 food samples during the drive for being examined in laboratories.
