NEW DELHI: The Punjab government has launched a statewide drive against food adulteration and substandard consumables, with extensive inspections and legal action taken over the past three years. The campaign, led by the department of food safety, has involved mass testing of products including milk, paneer, ghee, spices, sweets, fruits, and vegetables. According to official data, 2,340 paneer samples were collected during the campaign, out of which over 1,000 were found to be non-compliant with safety standards. This led to the seizure of more than 5,300 kg of paneer, of which 4,200 kg was destroyed. In addition, 700 of 2,559 milk samples tested failed to meet quality norms, resulting in the destruction of around 4,000 kg of milk. Similar enforcement measures were taken against adulterated or low-quality desi ghee, spices, sweets, and produce. Where violations were detected, goods were seized and legal action was initiated against the responsible parties. The crackdown has been supported by infrastructure such as mobile “Food Safety on Wheels” labs deployed in every district for spot testing. Further technical assistance is being provided by institutions including the State Food Testing Lab in Kharar, the Biotechnology Incubator in Mohali, and the Veterinary University in Ludhiana. Punjab has also implemented a complete ban on the sale of energy drinks to children, becoming the first state in the country to do so. As part of a wider public health initiative, the government has also conducted over 500 awareness camps and set up more than 150 ‘Eat Right India’-certified food hubs and clean campus programs. Officials said the campaign aims to ensure food sold across Punjab meets safety standards and to promote long-term changes in food safety compliance and awareness.
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