LUCKNOW: A two day enforcement drive by the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) in Lucknow against suspected adulterated and unsafe food products led to the collection of 19 food samples, seizure of nearly 9.8 tonnes of food items and destruction of over 8.5 tonnes of unfit products, officials said on Thursday.The action was carried out on July 8 and 9 at manufacturing units, warehouses and retail establishments dealing in spices, pickles, sauces and other food products across the city.At a manufacturing unit in Transport Nagar, officials destroyed 145 kg of expired spices, including turmeric, coriander, garam masala and red chilli powder, valued at around Rs 60,000.The biggest action was taken at a food processing unit in Bakshi Ka Talab, where around 8,400 kg of mango, lemon, cauliflower, carrot, ginger and chilli pickles were found rotten, foul smelling and covered with fungus.The stock, valued at about Rs 25.2 lakh, was destroyed. Officials also seized 2,000 jars of ready to sell mixed pickle weighing around 800 kg and valued at Rs 2.4 lakh.At another spice manufacturing unit in Iradat Nagar, authorities seized 8,983 kg of turmeric powder, coriander powder, garam masala, red chilli powder, rice flour and suspected adulterants worth about Rs 6.67 lakh.The manufacturing unit was ordered to shut immediately after inspectors found serious hygiene deficiencies and violations of food safety standards.In all, the department seized 9,783 kg of food products worth about Rs 9.07 lakh and destroyed 8,545 kg of food items valued at nearly Rs 25.8 lakh.The 19 food samples collected during the drive have been sent for laboratory analysis.Officials said further action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, will be taken after the test reports are received.
