Palanpur: The Food and Drug Regulatory Department (FDRD) seized 102 samples of sweets, namkeen and other food products for laboratory testing and confiscated 1,845kg of ghee that was suspected to be substandard, during a district-wide campaign drive ahead of Diwali.As part of the drive, officials conducted inspections and surprise checks at dairies, sweet and mawa manufacturers, namkeen units and ghee traders to detect food adulteration and other violations.The 102 samples collected for analysis included sweets, namkeen, ready-to-eat food products and ghee. Laboratory reports are awaited to establish whether the products were adulterated or failed to meet prescribed quality standards.Separately, officials collected around 187 primary samples of food products through a mobile food safety van.During inspections, officials found around 465kg of namkeen and other food products, along with 102kg of edible oil used for frying, to be unhygienic and unsafe for consumption. The products, collectively valued at Rs 75,750, were destroyed on the spot.In a separate operation, the department seized 1,845kg of ghee of suspect quality, valued at Rs 11.79 lakh.
