Food Safety / 3,605 Kg Adulterated Food Destroyed in Odisha Ahead of Festivals

Bhubaneswar, Aug 28: With the festive season approaching, Odisha’s Food Safety Department has launched an extensive crackdown to ensure clean and safe food supplies across the state. Under the supervision of Food Safety Commissioner Dr. Poma Tudu, teams have been conducting surprise inspections in districts, municipalities, and urban clusters, targeting food business establishments, officials said on Friday.

Officials said that so far, 3,605 kilograms of adulterated and substandard food items have been destroyed, while 475 samples have been collected for laboratory testing. In addition, fines amounting to Rs2,84,500 have been imposed on violators.

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) recorded the highest seizures, with 787 kilograms of unsafe food destroyed, 61 samples collected, and penalties worth Rs68,500 levied. In Cuttack Municipal Corporation (KMC), 570 kilograms of food were discarded, while Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) reported 123 kilograms of adulterated stock destroyed.

District‑level drives also yielded significant results. In Puri, 120 kilograms of unsafe food were destroyed, followed by 98 kilograms in Balasore, 95 kilograms each in Dhenkanal and Kendrapara, and 70 kilograms in Sundargarh. Authorities in Kendrapara imposed fines of Rs44,000, while Dhenkanal and Bhadrak collected Rs28,000 and Rs31,500 respectively.

The department emphasized that the campaign is not only punitive but also aimed at raising awareness among traders and consumers about food safety standards. “Our priority is to ensure that consumers receive hygienic and quality food during the festive season,” officials stated, adding that inspections will continue in the coming weeks.
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Consumers have been urged to check for quality, hygiene, and proper labelling while purchasing food items. The department reiterated that vigilance at both ends — enforcement and consumer awareness — is crucial to curb adulteration practices.

As festive demand peaks, the raids serve as a reminder that food safety is integral to public health, and violations will not be tolerated.