Food safety authorities levy ₹3.50 crore in fines as dairy product adulteration raises public health concern.
In a forceful response to rising concerns about food adulteration, the Noida Food Safety Department imposed ₹3.50 crore in penalties on food businesses after laboratory tests found widespread quality failures in staple dairy products including milk, paneer and ghee. The crackdown is part of a broader effort to tighten enforcement ahead of increased consumption periods and to protect public health from contaminated dairy supplies.
The enforcement action followed a three-day special drive involving surprise inspections at well-known eateries, sweet shops and food outlets across the Noida district. Officials collected 30 food samples from diverse establishments and issued notices to 40 food operators found violating established food safety standards, signaling a zero-tolerance stance on compromised food quality.
Food Safety Commissioner Sarvesh Kumar disclosed that from April to November 2024, authorities detected 128 serious violations involving adulteration and substandard products during routine and targeted inspections. Legal proceedings were initiated against offenders, with the cumulative penalties reflecting the gravity of the breaches identified in essential everyday dairy items consumed by millions.
Laboratory analysis confirmed adulteration not only in lower-tier sources but alarmingly also in products from established and reputed outlets, underscoring that food safety lapses are not confined to small vendors. Milk, paneer and ghee — core ingredients of Indian diets — failed to meet prescribed quality criteria, raising red flags for dairy producers, processors and supply chain stakeholders monitoring product integrity.
The Food Safety Department reiterated its commitment to stringent monitoring, pledging continued inspections and enforcement to curb adulteration. For dairy sector analysts and manufacturers, these developments highlight persistent challenges in product quality assurance and the crucial need for robust cold-chain management, regulatory compliance and traceability across dairy supply chains to safeguard consumer trust.
Source: Bharat Speaks — https://bharatspeaks.com/milk-paneer-ghee-fail-tests-noida-food-safety-dept-fines-violators-rs-3-50-crore/
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