Daijiworld Media Network - Gandhinagar

Gandhinagar, Sep 1: In a sweeping crackdown on food adulteration across Gujarat, the Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) seized over 46 tonnes of substandard and unsafe food items in August, with a total estimated value of around Rs 1.8 crore.

The state-wide operation targeted ghee, palm oil, cooking mediums, and silver foil, and coincided with the holy Shravan month, when the demand for purity in food products peaks.

FDCA Commissioner H.G. Koshia confirmed that the seizures resulted from routine inspections and a special enforcement drive, involving 10 major raids and the collection of 28 samples. Officials also destroyed around 32 kg of unsafe stock and confiscated an additional Rs 1.77 lakh worth of adulterated products.

Major Raids and Recoveries:

• In Surat, a massive 10-tonne haul of ghee valued at Rs 65 lakh was seized from SRK Dairy Farm, with tests later confirming substandard quality.
• Ahmedabad authorities seized over 11 tonnes of ghee worth Rs 10 lakh from Mahadev Dairy, alongside palm oil and other cooking mediums from Shivam Oil Industries (Daskroi) and Happy Oil Industries (Chhatral).
• In Banaskantha, 824 kg of adulterated ghee worth Rs 5.6 lakh was confiscated.
• In Mehsana, officials raided Divine Food (Vijapur), recovering 649 kg of paneer and 238 kg of refined palmolein oil.

“This is part of our sustained effort to ensure that only safe and pure food reaches consumers,” said Koshia. “Strict legal action will be taken against offenders.”

The August drive follows earlier operations this year, including:

• A 2,700 kg seizure of suspect ghee and related products from Surendranagar, worth Rs 13 lakh.
• A 4,000 kg haul of adulterated ghee valued at Rs 17.5 lakh from a dairy unit in Banaskantha.

Yearly Totals Paint a Grim Picture

So far in the 2024–25 fiscal year, the FDCA has conducted over 190 raids, recovering a staggering 351 tonnes of spurious food items worth Rs 10.5 crore. The items range from ghee, sweets, and grains to festive and religious food essentials, raising concerns about food safety during peak consumption periods.

Officials emphasized that the campaign would continue in the coming months, with zero tolerance for food adulteration.