Food Safety Department Conducts Festive Season Crackdown
As part of an ongoing state-wide campaign against food adulteration ahead of the upcoming festival season, the Punjab Food Safety Department launched a swift targeted operation in Tapa Mandi. Acting on confidential information received through an informant, official inspection teams conducted a sudden raid at a local establishment suspected of illegal oil processing and distribution. The operation successfully exposed a major illicit trade operating in the area, ensuring sub-standard and unsafe edible oil does not reach household kitchens.
Seizure of Unlicensed Stock and Fake Brand Labels
During the inspection, authorities recovered approximately 200 liters of loose mustard oil stored under unhygienic conditions, alongside 27 liters packed in branded bottles. Food Safety Inspector Charanjeet Singh Sahota reported that preliminary investigations revealed the vendor was operating entirely without a mandatory food safety license. Furthermore, the suspect was sourcing oil from outside areas without legitimate purchase bills and illegally bottling it using fake labels of a reputed company based in Bathinda.
Strict Legal Action and Samples Sent for Testing
The entire seized stock of mustard oil was immediately sealed on the spot, and official samples were drawn and dispatched to accredited food testing laboratories for detailed chemical analysis. Authorities confirmed that formal legal proceedings will be initiated based on the lab results under the Food Safety and Standards Act. The raid created widespread panic among dishonest traders in Tapa Mandi, causing nearby shopkeepers to shutter their establishments. Officials reiterated that rigorous inspections will continue across Punjab to protect consumer health during festive celebrations.
