The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has launched a crackdown on spice manufacturers, stockists, and wholesalers, seizing stocks worth over Rs 50 lakh and taking hundreds of samples for testing.
Enforcement Drive Details
The two-day enforcement drive, carried out in Lucknow and other districts on June 11 and 12 on the directions of the food safety commissioner, targeted both packed and loose spices, including whole and powdered variants. Food safety teams conducted surprise inspections at manufacturing units, warehouses, and wholesale establishments, examining hygiene standards, quality of raw material, record-keeping, and compliance with packaging and labelling norms. Authorities also checked for adulteration. Small retailers and grinding units were exempted.
Seizures and Samples
Officials said 813 samples were collected and sent for laboratory analysis. A total of 283.5 quintals of spices valued at Rs 50.23 lakh were seized, while 41.24 quintals worth Rs 10.47 lakh, found unfit or stored unhygienically, were destroyed.
Major Actions Across Districts
Major action was reported from Lucknow, Kanpur, Kanpur Dehat, Ghaziabad, and other districts. In Lucknow, expired stock worth Rs 13.67 lakh was sealed at a Kakori unit, while samples indicating possible artificial colouring were collected in Sahadatganj. Significant seizures were also reported in Kanpur Dehat and Ghaziabad.
