Ahmedabad, May 21 (IANS) The Gujarat Food and Drugs Department has seized 2,548 kilograms of allegedly adulterated mawa worth around Rs 5.10 lakh during a surprise raid on a dairy unit in Sabarkantha district, while another 550 kilograms of inedible mawa prepared in unhygienic conditions was destroyed on the spot, officials said on Thursday.

The action was taken at Bholenath Dairy in Rozad village of Talod taluka by the Gandhinagar Flying Squad of the Food and Drugs Department following specific intelligence inputs.

The raid was conducted under the instructions by State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya as part of an intensified statewide drive against food adulteration and illegal food manufacturing activities.

According to the department, preliminary investigation revealed that adulterated mawa was allegedly being manufactured on a large scale at the dairy.

Officials also found that sweet barfi was being produced illegally without the necessary licences and approvals.

Providing details of the operation, Pansheriya said the raid was carried out after the flying squad received “specific information” regarding irregular activities at the dairy unit.

“Preliminary investigation has revealed that adulterated mawa was being manufactured on a large scale at this dairy. Apart from this, illegal production of sweet barfi was also being carried out without any required licence,” the minister said.

Food Safety officers collected samples of loose mawa and barfi from the premises and sent them to a laboratory for analysis as part of legal proceedings.

“Approximately 2,548 kilograms of adulterated mawa worth around Rs 5.10 lakh has been seized from the dairy,” Pansheriya said.

Officials said the inspection team found extremely unhygienic conditions inside the dairy premises during the raid.

Authorities stated that another 550 kilograms of mawa produced in those conditions was considered unsafe for human consumption and was therefore destroyed immediately at the site.

“Extremely unhygienic conditions were found at the dairy during the inspection. Since another 550 kilograms of mawa prepared in such poor conditions was highly harmful to public health, it was immediately destroyed on the spot,” the department said in a statement.

The Food and Drugs Department has issued an Improvement Notice to Bholenath Dairy under the Food Safety and Standards Act for alleged violations of food safety regulations.

The dairy’s food licence has also been suspended with immediate effect pending further proceedings.

Officials said further legal action against the dairy would be initiated after laboratory reports of the collected samples are received.

Issuing a warning against food adulteration, Pansheriya said, “The state government will never forgive elements who play with public health merely for profit.”

He added that the Food and Drugs Department would continue strict inspections and surveillance against adulteration and illegal food-related activities across Gujarat in the coming period as well.

–IANS

mys/dan