UP Cracks Down on Adulterated Food Before Holi, Seizes 30,000 Oil Units & Destroys Dairy Products

Ahead of the Holi festival, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration has launched a statewide enforcement drive against adulterated food products. The campaign aims to protect consumers during the festive season, when demand for dairy items, sweets, and cooking oil rises significantly.

During inspections across multiple districts, authorities seized large quantities of suspected adulterated edible oil and destroyed contaminated paneer, mawa, and sweets deemed unsafe for consumption.

In Hapur, officials confiscated approximately 32,500 litres of edible oil from manufacturing and storage units. Authorities suspect adulteration and have sent samples for laboratory testing to confirm quality and safety standards.

The broader statewide operation resulted in the seizure of nearly 30,000 units of edible oil from various locations, indicating the scale of the crackdown ahead of the festive rush.

Paneer, Mawa and Sweets Destroyed Across Districts

In Gautam Buddha Nagar’s Tilpata area, officials destroyed 200 kg of adulterated paneer as part of preventive action before Holi.

In Saharanpur’s Rampur Maniharan region, authorities seized 6.30 quintals of suspected illegal paneer during inspections targeting dairy suppliers.

Ghaziabad witnessed one of the largest enforcement actions. Within just 72 hours, food safety teams destroyed 2,500 kg of paneer and 200 kg of mawa after finding the products unfit for consumption.

In Sambhal, officials raided a rasgulla manufacturing unit and destroyed 225 kg of sweets due to suspected adulteration.

Meanwhile, in Barabanki, the department collected six food samples during inspections. Items tested included khoya, milk, namkeen, and coloured kachri. Authorities stated that further action will depend on laboratory test results.

Food Safety Focus During Festive Season

Officials said the drive is part of preventive measures taken every year to curb food adulteration during peak festive demand. Adulterated dairy products and cooking oils pose serious health risks, including food poisoning and long-term health complications.

The department has urged consumers to remain alert while purchasing food items during the festive period. Buyers are advised to check packaging, avoid unusually low-priced products, and report suspicious items to local authorities.

The crackdown reflects the state’s effort to ensure safe food supply chains and maintain public health standards during one of India’s most widely celebrated festivals.

Authorities confirmed that inspections will continue in the coming days to prevent the distribution of unsafe food products and ensure strict compliance with food safety regulations.