Diwali Crackdown: Pilibhit Food Safety Teams Raid Shops to Stop Adulteration
Pilibhit Food Safety Department raids shops and dairies ahead of Diwali to curb food adulteration. Samples of ghee and oil sent for testing.
With the festive season of Diwali fast approaching, the Food Safety and Drug Administration department in Pilibhit has launched a massive offensive against food adulteration. In a bid to ensure that citizens have access to pure and safe food products during the celebrations, departmental teams have carried out surprise raids across the city and its outskirts.
The operation was initiated following strict directives from the District Magistrate, Alok Kumar, and the Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration in Lucknow. The goal is clear: to weed out unscrupulous traders who attempt to maximize profits by compromising the quality of essential food items during the peak festive demand.
Targeted Samples and Laboratory Testing
Leading the enforcement drive, Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety Anil Kumar Singh confirmed that the team has collected four specific samples from various establishments. These samples have been dispatched to the State Food Analyst Laboratory for rigorous testing to check for impurities or illegal additives.
The items seized for testing include:
- Ghee: Collected from Nikki Pilaniya Chaudhary's Mangowood Dairy Farm, located in Tanda Bijaisi, Nyuriya.
- Mustard Oil: Sampled from the Christian Ashram, operated by the Krishna Jan Kalyan Trust in Dhiyuni Kesarpur.
- Green Dressing Sauce: Taken from Raju Kirana Store in Piparia Agaru.
- Custard Powder: Collected from Shri Shyam Agency on Tanakpur Road in Majhola.
Strict Action Promised
The department has made it clear that these raids are not a one-time event. Assistant Commissioner Anil Kumar Singh emphasized that the enforcement operations will persist to maintain a strict vigil over the market. He warned that the department will not hesitate to take severe legal action against any vendor or manufacturer found guilty of food adulteration once the laboratory reports are received.
As Pilibhit prepares for the festivities, the administration's proactive approach aims to protect public health and ensure that the joy of Diwali is not marred by the consumption of contaminated or fake food products.