Dairy units found using foreign fats, hazardous chemicals or adulterants could face seizure, shutdown, criminal prosecution and suspension of licences.
The Uttar Pradesh government has imposed a statewide ban on analogue forms of milk products as part of a stronger drive against adulteration in the dairy sector. The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), Uttar Pradesh, led by Commissioner Dr. Roshan Jacob, has directed officials to begin immediate enforcement across the state.
Under the order, milk and milk products must be manufactured and sold in their original or natural form. Products that deviate from their native characteristics through the use of prohibited substitutes, foreign fats or other adulterants will face action.
The directive follows recent inspections across several districts that reportedly detected adulteration in products including milk, paneer, khoya, ghee, chenna and cream.
According to the findings cited in the order, some manufacturing units were allegedly using low-cost substitutes and chemicals such as refined oil, foreign fats, soybean products, talcum powder, detergent, titanium dioxide, liquid glucose, hydrogen peroxide, optical brighteners, surfactants, bleaching agents and emulsifiers. Some of these materials were allegedly being used to manipulate quality parameters, including BR and RM values.
Seizure, Shutdown and Prosecution
Exercising powers under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Commissioner has directed authorities to take stringent action against units found using foreign fats, hazardous chemicals or adulterants.
Dairy stock at offending units can be seized and destroyed, while units may face immediate shutdown through emergency prohibition orders under Section 34 of the FSS Act, 2006.
Cases involving the systematic use of harmful chemicals may also lead to criminal prosecution and FIRs under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Brands found violating the directive could additionally face a statewide sales ban and immediate suspension of their food business licences or registrations.
The restrictions will not be limited to products manufactured within Uttar Pradesh. Dairy products entering the state from elsewhere may also face a statewide ban if they are found to contain harmful chemicals or prohibited foreign fats.
With the latest action, Uttar Pradesh has strengthened its regulatory stance against unstandardised analogue dairy products, with the government focusing on protecting consumers and preventing adulterated products from entering the dairy supply chain.