10,000 kg expired dates seized, 675 kg adulterated khoya destroyed in Kanpur

A recent series of raids by food safety officials across Kanpur led to the recovery of a significant quantity of adulterated and expired food items.

A consignment of expired dates weighing approximately 10,000 kg and valued at nearly Rs 50 lakh was seized from the premises of a wholesaler during the operation.

Nine samples were also sent for laboratory analysis. Officials said that legal action will be initiated against the accused persons after the report is received.

According to authorities, fake labels and stickers were being used in an attempt to pass off the expired dates as freshly procured in the market.

As much as 675 kg of adulterated khoya was also recovered by the officials from another location. The entire consignment was subsequently destroyed by the authorities.

A consignment of adulterated supari (betel nuts) worth more than 2 lakh was also seized and destroyed by the officials.

The special enforcement drive came as Muslims observed the holy month of Ramzan and Hindus geared up to celebrate the upcoming festival of Holi.

The raids were conducted in various parts of Kanpur by teams of the Food Safety and Drug Administration department.

The seizures reflect how some unscrupulous traders take advantage of the festive season to push adulterated and spoilt products into the market for monetary gains.

The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration has urged the public to pay special attention to expiry dates, packaging, and product quality while making purchases.

Officials also urged people to immediately inform the department about any suspicious items so that timely action can be taken. The campaign, which is set to continue in the coming days, is considered an important step toward protecting public health and curbing food adulteration.

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Based on inputs from Simer Chawla