Suspected Contaminated Rock Salt, Flours Seized In UP, Uttarakhand
Suspected contaminated fasting foods seized in UP and Uttarakhand
Food safety authorities in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have seized consignments of suspected rock salt, falhari laddoo, kuttu (buckwheat) flour, and singhara (water chestnut) flour ahead of Navratri celebrations starting March 25, 2026. In Noida, officials raided Santosh Traders and Muskan Traders in Kulesra, confiscating around 400 kg of loose kuttu flour lacking batch numbers, manufacturing dates, or valid receipts, while samples were collected for lab testing. These vrat-specialty items, essential for fasting menus, raised alarms over potential adulteration and mislabeling in high-demand festive periods.
Ghaziabad's Food Safety Department intensified drives, targeting substandard fasting foods including sendha namak (rock salt) and falhari laddoo, with 20 samples gathered across outlets and three sent for detailed analysis. The crackdown also uncovered adulterated rasgulla, gulab jamun, and paneer, reflecting broader concerns over packaged prasad quality amid past scandals like the Tirupati laddu controversy. Officials emphasized stricter enforcement to protect consumers during the nine-day festival when demand for these flours surges.
In Uttarakhand, prior incidents of contaminated kuttu atta sickening over 100 in Dehradun last Navratri prompted the Food Safety and Drug Administration to issue warnings against loose sales, mandating sealed packaging with clear dates. Inspectors in Haridwar and Dehradun sealed shops and traced supplies to Saharanpur, underscoring recurring issues with buckwheat and singhara flours often mixed with cheaper grains. This year's proactive raids aim to prevent health risks like food poisoning during religious fasting.
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The seizures, worth nearly Rs 4 lakh in Noida alone—including 2,520 kg kuttu flour and 1,050 kg rock salt from a Sector 49 facility—highlight vulnerabilities in supply chains for vrat items. Authorities invoked food safety laws, with shopkeepers questioned and stocks impounded pending results. Past cases, like spurious Tata Salt busts in Greater Noida, reveal organized rackets repackaging inferior products.
Navratri's dietary restrictions amplify scrutiny, as devotees rely on certified sendha namak, kuttu, and singhara for purity. Officials urge buying branded, FSSAI-licensed products and avoiding loose stock, while lab reports will determine prosecutions. Temple authorities in Prayagraj have even restricted processed sweets, echoing national calls for reform post-adulteration exposures.
These actions safeguard public health in festive seasons, where substandard fasting foods pose acute risks to millions observing upvas. As tests progress, enhanced monitoring across northern India signals sustained vigilance, potentially curbing black-market profiteering and rebuilding trust in religious consumables.
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