Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration Department seized food products worth approximately Rs 5.99 lakh after inspecting 16 sweet manufacturing units across the state on August 31. The special drive, conducted on the directions of Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader, covered Bengaluru Urban and Rural, the Greater Bengaluru Authority, Mysuru, Dakshina Kannada, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and Hubballi-Dharwad.
Officials found expired food, mislabelled products and unhygienic conditions, among other violations. Five litres of expired Nandini curd, 10 kg of chocolate flavour, 5 kg of rasgulla and around 60 kg of misbranded packaged food were among the items seized. Samples of sweets, dairy products, oils, pulses, tea powder, khova and other food items have been sent to authorised laboratories for testing. The department said establishments found violating the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and related rules would face legal action. It also said such enforcement drives would continue to protect consumers and ensure compliance with food safety and hygiene standards.
Expired Food, Poor Labelling
The inspections uncovered a range of concerns extending beyond expired products. Officials found around 60 kg of packaged food, including banana chips and chakli masala, without mandatory information such as the manufacturer’s name and address and FSSAI licence number. At one Bengaluru unit, officials also reported fly infestation and unhygienic conditions, raising concerns about possible contamination. In another major seizure, 400 kg of khova and kalakand were reportedly confiscated from a Bengaluru-based unit because the products lacked details including the manufacturing date, use-by date, batch number, maximum retail price and FSSAI licence or registration information.
Officials also seized 367 kg of ready-to-eat savouries, 196 kg of fennel powder, 4 kg of cocoa powder, 4.5 kg of cracked cocoa beans and 6 kg of khova during the wider operation. Several establishments were issued notices, while some units were temporarily closed over serious hygiene or licensing concerns. The department said samples collected during the drive would undergo laboratory analysis and further action would depend on the violations established. “The special drive was undertaken to ensure strict compliance with food safety, hygiene and quality standards and to safeguard public health,” the department said.
Food Safety Checks Matters
The crackdown comes as demand for sweets and ready-to-eat food typically rises around India’s festive season, making food safety and accurate labelling particularly important for consumers. While not every product seized has been established as unsafe for consumption, expired items, missing manufacturing information and poor hygiene can make it difficult for consumers to assess what they are buying and eating. Laboratory testing will determine whether sampled products meet the required safety and quality standards. The department has indicated that enforcement will continue across food manufacturing units and other food businesses, with action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 for confirmed violations.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Food safety is not simply a matter of regulation; it is about protecting people’s right to eat food without being exposed to avoidable risks. Businesses have a responsibility to maintain clean premises, use ingredients within their shelf life and provide consumers with honest, complete information.
At the same time, enforcement should remain transparent, consistent and proportionate, giving businesses an opportunity to correct genuine lapses while taking firm action against practices that could endanger public health. Regular inspections are therefore welcome, but lasting change will require both accountability and awareness from manufacturers and retailers to consumers who check labels and expiry dates. Do you think stricter and more regular food-safety inspections can help make festive food safer for everyone?
