Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh govt has intensified enforcement against food adulteration and violations of prescribed standards, citing a zero-tolerance policy pursued under CM Yogi Adityanath.According to the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (FSDA), large-scale inspections, raids, sample collection and court action have been carried out across the state to curb adulteration and ensure compliance with food safety rules.Over the last nine years, the department conducted 14,49,687 inspections, carried out 2,10,688 raids, collected 2,64,139 food samples and recovered more than Rs 371 crore in fines. Through prosecution in courts, 1,388 adulterators have been convicted, the department said.Roshan Jacob, secretary and commissioner, FSDA, said the chief minister has prioritised action to prevent adulteration in food items and that the department has pursued enforcement under the zero-tolerance framework.Of the samples tested during the period, 94,265 were found substandard, meaning they did not meet prescribed standards but were not considered harmful to health.Another 19,364 samples were found unsafe, indicating the presence of harmful chemicals. In addition, 24,212 samples were flagged for misbranding or rule violations, including incomplete information on packets or discrepancies between the product and label claims. The department said 1,37,841 samples did not conform to standards overall, reflecting widespread violations linked to quality, safety and regulatory compliance.FSDA data shows that 1,29,953 cases were filed in AO courts (ADM courts), with fines of Rs 368.41 crore imposed in 98,063 cases. Separately, 17,404 cases were filed in judicial courts, where fines of Rs 2.63 crore were imposed in 2,971 cases and 1,388 people were sentenced.Jacob said enforcement has been sustained from inspections and raids to testing and judicial action. She cited an increase from 1,35,660 inspections and 14,115 raids in 2017-18 to 1,57,010 inspections and 32,883 raids in 2025-26. In the current financial year up to July, the department reported 46,981 inspections, 7,789 raids and collection of 10,079 samples.
