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In view of the festive season, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) Department is conducting an intensive campaign against adulterators across the state. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat have ordered strict action against adulterators. The Chief Minister has stated that any compromise with the health of consumers will not be acceptable during the festive season. On this occasion, he instructed officials to strictly monitor the quality of mawa, cheese, ghee, milk, and sweets sold in the market so that adulteration can be effectively curbed.
Intensive raid campaign continues in all districts
Health Secretary and Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar has directed Additional Commissioner (Food Safety) Tajbar Singh Jaggi to conduct continuous inspection and raid campaign in all districts during the festive season. Special vigilance is also being maintained in the border districts of the state to prevent the supply of spurious and substandard food items from outside states. Departmental teams are carrying out rapid sampling work through mobile vans. Dr. Rajesh Kumar said that laboratories have been instructed to test the samples quickly so that legal action against the culprits can be ensured immediately.
The pace of testing has increased during the festive season.
Commissioner Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar said that mobile food testing labs are continuously visiting markets and conducting on-the-spot testing of products like mawa, khoya, paneer, sweets and oil. Departmental teams are conducting sampling in every district, town and major market of the state so that safe, pure and quality food items can reach every consumer. The government’s clear message is “No leniency against adulteration, consumer’s health is paramount.”
Additional Commissioner Tajbar Jaggi is leading the campaign.
Additional Commissioner Tajbar Singh Jaggi himself is leading the raids being conducted in various districts. He informed that special vigil is being maintained in Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts along with Chardham Yatra routes and tourist places. Additional teams have been deployed in these areas, which are collecting samples of mawa, paneer, ghee and sweets and sending them to laboratories for testing. Immediate sealing, license cancellation and penalty action is being taken against the establishments found guilty in the investigation.
A large consignment of counterfeit dairy products was seized in Bhagwanpur.
A joint team of the Food Safety Department and police stopped and inspected a vehicle in Baleki Yusufpur village, Bhagwanpur, at around 5 a.m. today. The vehicle was carrying cheese without quality certification and health standards. The inspection also revealed that the products lacked any FSSAI standard markings or labeling, posing a serious threat to consumer health. The team seized the products on the spot and filed a case against the driver and supplier under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Additional Commissioner Tajbar Singh Jaggi stated that the department is keeping a close eye on gangs supplying counterfeit dairy products in the Bhagwanpur area. Continued action will be taken in the coming days.
A consignment of fake ghee and milk powder was also found in Rishikesh.
In the same sequence, the Food Safety Department took major action in Rishikesh. A vehicle was stopped and inspected, in which 5 quintals of cream, 35 kilograms of ghee and 50 kilograms of skimmed milk powder were found to be supplied. All these products did not have quality certificates or approval documents. The team seized the products on the spot and sent samples for testing. Initial investigation suggests that these products are likely to be fake products brought illegally from other states. The department clarified that strict punitive action will be taken in such cases and the legal process will be initiated by filing an FIR against the culprits.
Zero tolerance policy in consumer interest – CM Dhami
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has stated that the government’s priority is public health and consumer safety. He said that there is no place for adulteration in the state. A zero tolerance policy will be implemented against those who compromise on food quality during the festive season. The Chief Minister also appealed to the public to use quality products, avoid purchasing unverified products, and report any suspicious activity to the department.
Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat’s Appeal
Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat said that clean and safe food is the foundation not only of individual health but also of society’s overall development. The government is working diligently in this direction. He said that the department has been provided with every possible resource to prevent adulteration. He also urged officials to “remain vigilant during the festive season and that any negligence will not be tolerated.”
Public awareness campaign also underway.
The Additional Commissioner stated that the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department is also conducting a public awareness campaign across the state, educating schoolchildren, traders, and consumers on how to identify safe food. As part of this campaign, the department is distributing posters, organizing social media campaigns, and organizing local events on the theme “Safe Food – Healthy Life.” Additional Commissioner of the FDA, Tajbar Singh Jaggi, urged consumers to check packaging, labeling, and manufacturing dates when purchasing food. He stated that consumers are paramount to our priorities. No adulterator will be spared. The department also urged consumers to immediately report any suspicious food product or seller to the Food Safety and Drug Administration’s helpline or local office.
