14,000 litres of adulterated oil, 1,320 kg of rotten dates and fake ghee seized in Kanpur raid; FSSAI & UPFSDA issue warning ahead of festival season

In a major crackdown on food adulteration, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (UPFSDA), in coordination with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has seized nearly 14,000 litres of adulterated oil during raids in Kanpur.

The intensive enforcement drive also led to the confiscation of more than 1,000 kilograms of coloured waste and other suspicious food items as authorities stepped up vigilance ahead of the festive season.

13,972 Litres of Adulterated Oil Seized in Kanpur Raids

According to an official statement, enforcement teams seized 13,972 litres of adulterated oil and 1,350 kilograms of coloured waste during inspections across the city.


Officials also raided a fake ghee manufacturing unit in Kalyanpur, where goods worth approximately Rs 5.45 lakh were confiscated. All seized samples have been sent to a laboratory for further testing and analysis.

The operation was launched as part of a wider effort to curb food adulteration before upcoming festivals, when demand for edible products rises sharply.

Cold Storages, Dairies and Sweet Shops Under Scanner

As part of the campaign, surprise inspections were conducted at food outlets, cold storage facilities and dairies across Kanpur and other areas.

Authorities reported action at Swaroop Cold Storage in Aishbagh and inspections at Himalayan Cold Storage on Ayodhya Road. Raids were also carried out on dairies in the Havetmau area along Rae Bareli Road, with samples collected from sweet shops and other establishments.

During the operation:

• 1,320 kilograms of dates were seized
• 1,418 kilograms of coloured kachri were confiscated
• Food items were recovered from a warehouse in Aminabad

Officials confirmed that strict action against adulteration will continue throughout the festival period.

Rapid Raids Conducted in Lucknow During Ramadan and Holi

The FSDA has also intensified checks in Lucknow during Ramadan and Holi. The ongoing drive includes sudden inspections of warehouses, food outlets and dairy units to prevent the sale of substandard or adulterated products.

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to protecting public health and ensuring food safety compliance across the state.

FSSAI Launches Online Food Safety Risk Assessment Training Programme

Separately, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently launched a comprehensive online training programme on Food Safety Risk Assessment, along with a dedicated digital training portal.

The initiative aims to strengthen India’s science-based food regulatory framework and enhance institutional capacity in managing emerging food safety challenges.

The training framework aligns with international risk analysis standards while being tailored to India’s regulatory requirements, ensuring both global relevance and national applicability.

Focus on Dietary Exposure Assessment and Global Collaboration

A key component of the programme is Dietary Exposure Assessment, developed with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO). The sessions are being delivered by experts from:

• JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives)
• JEMRA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment)
• JMPR (Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues)

With food systems becoming increasingly complex due to emerging contaminants, antimicrobial resistance, technological advancements and changing dietary habits, authorities emphasised that strengthening risk assessment capacity is crucial to safeguarding public health and ensuring credible regulatory decisions.

Inputs from ANI