Health Dept intensifies drive against food biz operators, 40 cases filed in 8 months
The District Health Department has tightened its noose around outlets selling food and dairies in Ludhiana. After an analysis, the department has filed 40 cases with the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) court based on the failed samples in the past eight months.
“The department has intensified food safety operations across the district. From September 2024 to April 2025, its food safety team carried out a targeted sampling campaign aimed at curbing food adulteration and ensuring strict compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
During this period, 356 food samples were collected from various vendors, dairies and food processing units across the district,” said Civil Surgeon Ramandeep Kaur.
Testing conducted at the State Food Laboratory revealed that 23 of these samples complied with safety standards while 69 were found to be non-compliant. Results of some samples are yet to be received.
According to District Health Officer Amarjit Kaur, the sampling covered a wide range of commonly consumed dairy products. Of the 35 milk samples taken, 25 passed, seven failed the tests and three are awaiting results. For ghee, 33 samples were collected, with 16 passing the test, 10 failing and seven pending. In case of curd, nine samples were taken, resulting in two passing the test, five failures and two pending reports. Paneer was sampled extensively with 67 samples taken; 36 passed, 25 failed, and six are pending. Lastly, 10 samples of khoya were tested, with eight passing and results for two still awaited.
“Following the analysis, the Health Department has filed 40 legal cases with the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) court based on failed samples. Additional cases are currently being processed and will be filed upon the completion of investigation. All actions are being taken in accordance with legal provisions outlined in the Act,” added Dr Amarjit.
In addition to legal action, the food safety team is actively conducting regular inspections of food establishments, including hotels, sweet shops and processing units. Challans are being issued for unhygienic conditions and improvement notices are served wherever required.
The proactive measures were aimed at improving overall food safety standards, deterring non-compliance and protecting public health, she added.
The main aim of the department was to ensure safe and hygienic food for all residents. Food business operators are also urged to strictly adhere to hygiene protocols and FSSAI guidelines. Citizens are also encouraged to promptly report any suspected cases of food adulteration so timely action can be taken, Dr Amarjit added.
Check purity at home
Milk: Mix equal parts of milk and water in a glass or test tube. Shake vigorously. Pure milk will form minimal or no lather. Adulterated milk (with detergents) will produce a persistent, stable froth.
Ghee: Perform a simple burn test by heating a teaspoon of ghee in a pan. Pure ghee should melt quickly, without producing excessive smoke or a burnt smell. Impurities or added substances may create smoke or alter its natural scent.
Curd: Add a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar to a small amount of curd. Stir and let it sit for a few minutes. If the curd doesn’t curdle properly or has a clumpy consistency, it may be adulterated.
Paneer: Boil paneer, let it cool, and then add a few drops of iodine tincture. If paneer turns blue, it likely contains starch and is not pure.
Khoya: Dissolve a small amount of khoya in hot water and then add a few drops of iodine. If the solution turns blue, it indicates the presence of starch, which is used as an adulterant.
Ludhiana