The Uttarakhand Food Safety and Drug Administration has initiated a statewide operation targeting hoteliers and shopkeepers involved in the sale of adulterated milk, Khoya (dried milk), and Paneer (soft white cheese). Authorities are conducting raids across the state to collect samples of these products, with penalties of up to five lakh rupees imposed on offenders. Decoy teams are being deployed to gather intelligence on those engaging in adulteration.

In response to directives from the State Health Secretary and Food Safety Commissioner Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, heightened vigilance is being enforced at interstate border entry points in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udham Singh Nagar. This operation, led by Joint Commissioner Dr. R.K. Singh and Additional Commissioner Tajbar Singh Jaggi, focuses primarily on milk products arriving from border districts in Uttar Pradesh.

Commissioner Kumar has issued a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) for the anti-adulteration campaign, mandating action against errant hoteliers and food business establishments statewide. He has instructed senior food safety officials to be active on the ground, sampling any milk products suspected of adulteration, particularly with the festive season approaching. The SOP outlines penalties that could reach five lakh rupees and imprisonment for up to six years for shopkeepers guilty of adulteration. Although this initiative is new, it is under the direct oversight of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat.

The SOP, distributed to all district magistrates, mandates strict action against manufacturers, dealers, suppliers, and retail shopkeepers involved in producing adulterated food, in accordance with the Food Safety Standards Act of 2006 and Rules of 2011. Actions taken against offenders will be reviewed periodically, with daily reports submitted online to the Uttarakhand Food Safety and Drugs Administration.

Joint Commissioner Dr. R.K. Singh noted that stringent monitoring is being conducted in border areas adjacent to Uttar Pradesh. The department has established procedures for on-site sampling of milk products and other food items at interstate border posts, facilitating the immediate identification and legal action against erring suppliers.

Singh also mentioned the formation of joint teams statewide to combat adulteration. These teams are raiding hotels, dairy food manufacturers, and various shops to prevent adulterated foods from reaching consumers. A vigilance cell has been established to receive complaints and coordinate with the raiding teams. Surveillance measures are also in place, with a focus on preventing toxic substances from being used in Holi sweets.

Additional Commissioner Tajbar Singh Jaggi explained that the state’s 13 districts have been organized into three groups to tackle adulteration. Each district’s food sampling teams are equipped with mobile food laboratories, enabling immediate sampling and analysis, which can expedite action against guilty shopkeepers.

Jaggi also shared that decoy teams have been created to monitor and gather intelligence regarding imported adulterated goods. In addition to enforcement and surveillance, these decoy teams will educate consumers about adulterated products. To ensure safety, raiding teams have also been given police support.