Gujarat's Food Safety Crackdown: Significance for the Dairy Sector

In a significant move to safeguard food safety, Gujarat's Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) seized 46 tonnes of adulterated and counterfeit food products valued at Rs 1.8 crore ($215,000 USD) through a series of 10 raids across districts like Surat, Ahmedabad, and Banaskantha in August. The crackdown aimed at ensuring access to 'pure and safe food items,' targeting various sectors of the agribusiness supply chain.

Particularly alarming were the findings in the dairy sector. Among the seizures were three samples of ghee and one of butter, valued at Rs 65 lakh ($78,000 USD), from SRK Dairy Farm in Surat. New Adinath Dairy Products in Ahmedabad had 448 kg of ghee confiscated, and Mahadev Dairy yielded 11 tonnes of substandard ghee, showcasing the dairy industry's susceptibility to such practices.

Additionally, other food items were not spared; authorities seized 1.7 tonnes of cooking oil and 11 tonnes of RBD palm oil, demonstrating a comprehensive effort against food fraud. A raid on Shyam Enterprise in Surat uncovered 208 kg of vegetable fat used in making counterfeit products, which affects both consumer health and market transparency.

Dr. HG Koshiya, FDCA Commissioner, highlighted the stern measures being applied to those responsible for adulteration, with 32 kg of unsafe food destroyed and 12 tonnes of adulterated products seized during inspections of 468 sellers. The seizure of fake paneer and cheese from M Divine Food further emphasizes the massive scope of food fraud.

This enforcement drive has significant implications for dairy economics and food safety, highlighting the need for rigorous quality control and supply chain traceability to protect consumer trust and ensure product integrity.