Uttar Pradesh FSDA Seizes Thousands of Quintals of Adulterated Food Ahead of Diwali, But Citizens Question Year-Round Vigilance
As Diwali approaches, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) of Uttar Pradesh has launched a massive campaign to curb food adulteration, seizing nearly 3,000 quintals of unsafe food items across the state.
Since the drive began on October 8, officials report conducting 2,448 raids and 5,464 inspections, collecting 3,369 samples, and destroying roughly half of the confiscated goods declared unfit for consumption.
The campaign, set to conclude on Friday, also led to the filing of three FIRs in Unnao, Mathura, and Lucknow.
According to FSDA Assistant Commissioner Vineet Kumar, perishable items are buried on-site with the help of a JCB machine, while non-perishables are seized for detailed laboratory testing.
Mobile testing vans, known as ‘Food Safety on Wheels’, were deployed at select locations to conduct on-the-spot checks.
Authorities noted that many adulterated products originate from small-scale or unregulated kitchens, often distributed across districts and even to neighboring states.
For instance, a recent Aligarh operation uncovered adulterated khoya intended for the Delhi NCR market.
Other significant seizures include 215 kg of khoya in Unnao, 400 kg of paneer in Mathura, 790 kg of pickles in Hathras, and 3,000 kg of sweets in Bulandshahr.
Hapur saw 6,000 liters of refined soybean oil confiscated, while Mirzapur and Saharanpur reported large quantities of khoya destroyed.
While these measures have garnered media attention, many citizens question the FSDA’s apparent seasonal activism, raising concerns about why such vigilance seems limited to the Diwali period. Sidharth Srivastava, a civil services aspirant, asked pointedly:
“Do unscrupulous food vendors stop adulterating their products the rest of the year, or does the department simply turn a blind eye until festival season?”
Samosas, one of India’s most popular snacks, illustrate the concern. Srivastava highlighted that oil used in street food preparation often remains in the pot all day, with fresh oil added to compensate for evaporation.
This practice renders the oil highly unhealthy, contributing to digestive issues, including constipation and other stomach-related problems, now increasingly recognized as widespread health concerns.
Despite these risks, citizens argue that regulatory authorities and the government have largely neglected public safety throughout the year, leaving people vulnerable to adulterated food and long-term health hazards.
The seasonal FSDA drive, while commendable, underscores the need for year-round monitoring, stricter regulations, and public awareness campaigns to ensure food safety beyond festival seasons.
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