Gandhinagar: Food and Drug Regulatory Commissioner Dr. H.G. Koshia today announced that during a 15-day drive carried out by the authorities, a total of 233 tonnes of suspected adulterated food products were seized across Gujarat.

Addressing the media, Koshia stated that from October 3 to October 17, the “Food Safety Pakhwada” was held, during which food safety teams from the state government and civic bodies conducted raids at 115 locations, seizing or destroying around 233 tonnes of suspected adulterated food material. If this amount had not been seized, it would have reached consumers through wholesalers and retailers. The estimated value of the seized products is around Rs 6.6 crores.

Samples of all the seized products have been collected and sent to labs. After the lab results are received, further legal action will be taken against those involved in the adulteration of food products. In cases involving false marketing and adulteration, traders are also being penalized. So far, the department has collected fines amounting to Rs 1 crore, with the highest fines imposed in Banaskantha, totaling around Rs 65 lakhs.

Among the seizures, 32 tons of inedible ghee, worth Rs 3.8 crores, and 36 tons of sweet Mava have been confiscated. DeshGujarat