Food items worth approximately Rs 1.04 crore seized under the 'Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai' campaign; 1,500 kg of paneer destroyed
FIRs registered in Hapur and Etah; action taken on 13.59 tonnes of ghee in Lucknow
Inspection of ghee, milk cream, edible oil, vanaspati and fasting (phalahari) food items intensified
Directions issued to stop unnecessary harassment of small shopkeepers
Lucknow, October 2026 : To provide devotees with pure, safe and quality food items during the Navratri festival, the Food Safety and Drug Administration, Uttar Pradesh has further intensified action against adulterators. Under the 'Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai' campaign, a wide-ranging enforcement drive was conducted across the state on 8 and 9 October. During the drive, establishments engaged in the manufacture, storage and sale of ghee, milk cream, edible oil, vanaspati, buckwheat (kuttu) and water chestnut (singhara) flour, and other fasting food items were thoroughly inspected.
According to the consolidated figures of the action taken in the state, about 22,642 kilograms of food items were seized, with an estimated value of about Rs 1.04 crore. In Etah, 1,500 kilograms of paneer, worth Rs 3.97 lakh, was destroyed on the spot. In cases of serious irregularities, two FIRs have also been registered in Hapur and Etah.
Milk cream was being prepared using vanaspati and refined oil
In the ongoing action against food adulteration ahead of Navratri, a major irregularity came to light in Hapur. At the Dev Fresh Cream establishment in Lodipur, a case was caught in which milk cream was being prepared by mixing vanaspati and refined oil. The team seized 8 quintals of cream, 20 quintals of refined oil and 10 quintals of vanaspati from the spot, a total of 38 quintals, i.e. 3,800 kilograms, of food material. An FIR has been registered at the concerned police station in the matter.
1,500 kg paneer destroyed in Etah, FIR against proprietor
During action at Sapna Dairy in Etah, 125 kilograms of skimmed milk powder, 270 kilograms of soybean dal, 7 kilograms of Ranipal, 90 kilograms of Nutrilite refined palmolein oil, 10 litres of RM oil and 100 kilograms of ghee were seized. A soybean dal grinding machine was also seized from the spot. During the inspection, 1,500 kilograms of paneer, worth Rs 3,97,500, was destroyed. The team took a total of 10 samples, including skimmed milk powder, Ranipal, soybean dal, RM oil, refined palmolein oil, two of paneer, two of ghee and one of milk cream. An FIR has been registered against the proprietor of the establishment in the matter.
Ghee worth Rs 17.53 lakh seized in Lucknow
In Lucknow, 2,548 kilograms of ghee was seized from the establishment M/s Jain Desi Ghee on grounds of filth and misbranding. Its value is stated to be about Rs 17.53 lakh. Three samples were also collected from the spot. Meanwhile, during action at the firm Shyamlal Chunnilal, 11,040 kilograms of ghee was seized, worth about Rs 68.44 lakh. Four samples were also taken as the cleanliness and hygiene conditions at the establishment were found unsatisfactory.
11.85 quintals of edible oil seized in Jaunpur
In Jaunpur, 1,185 kilograms of edible oil was seized on grounds of misbranding from an establishment dealing in ghee, puja ghee and edible oil. Its estimated value is Rs 2.10 lakh. Four samples were also collected during the action.
Storage of food material under unhygienic conditions caught in Kanpur
In Kanpur Nagar, action was taken against the establishment Purshana Food Products on grounds of unhygienic conditions and filth. The team seized 780 litres of edible fat, 150 kilograms of vanaspati and 133 litres of soybean oil. Their recorded values are Rs 2.57 lakh, Rs 20,610 and Rs 2,211 respectively. The total value of the seized material is about Rs 2.88 lakh. Three samples were also taken from the spot. Also in Kanpur, 2,496 bottles of refined groundnut oil were seized from the establishment Shatakshi Traders, with a value stated to be about Rs 3.35 lakh.
34 tins of ghee seized in Auraiya
In Auraiya, 34 tins of ghee were seized from a food establishment on grounds of misbranding. During the action, standards related to the quality and labelling of food items were also checked.
Action in Hathras and Kasganj too, focus on buckwheat-water chestnut flour
On 9 October, special enforcement action is being carried out in Hathras and Kasganj against establishments preparing counterfeit products in the name of ghee and puja ghee. In addition, in all districts of the state, inspections and sample collection are continuously being carried out to ensure the quality of buckwheat (kuttu) and water chestnut (singhara) flour and other fasting food items used during Navratri. Departmental action continued till late at night.
Strictness against adulterators, relief for small shopkeepers
Clear instructions have been given to the enforcement teams by the Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration, that small shopkeepers and retailers should not be unnecessarily harassed in the name of inspection. The department's focus is on taking effective action against adulterators, manufacturers of misbranded food items, and establishments committing serious irregularities. All enforcement teams have been directed to ensure fairness, transparency and action in accordance with the rules. In other words, the aim of the campaign is not merely to take action, but to provide safe food items to the common consumer and to ensure compliance with standards in the food business.
