New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has instructed all States and Union Territories to launch a special enforcement drive targeting adulteration and misbranding of milk and milk products, including paneer and khoya, sources told ANI.

The move comes after multiple reports highlighted the risks posed by unsafe, illegally manufactured dairy products to public health.

Under the directive, food safety authorities will carry out intensive inspections of both licensed and unlicensed dairy units, collect enforcement samples, verify food business operator (FBO) registrations, and trace sources of adulteration. Strict measures, including licence cancellations, seizures, product recalls, and closure of illegal units, have been mandated, the sources added.

The FSSAI has also asked States to ensure real-time reporting on FoSCoS, submit fortnightly enforcement reports, and strengthen inter-State coordination to curb the distribution of adulterated milk products. Issued under Section 16(5) of the FSS Act, the directive aims to protect consumers and uphold food safety standards across the country, sources told ANI.

FSSAI to collect samples to check nitrofurans presence in eggs

Earlier this week, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) asked regional offices to collect egg samples for testing to check the presence of nitrofurans in eggs.

Also read: Eggs are not the danger: The truth behind the AOZ scare

A controversy was ignited after reports on the quality of eggs distributed by Eggoz, with regard to the alleged presence of nitrofurans, surfaced. Nitrofurans are antibiotics banned in food-producing animals, yet their residues may still be found in eggs due to illegal use.

According to ANI sources, "The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked regional offices to collect samples of branded and unbranded eggs to send samples for testing at Ten Laboratories across the country to check the presence of nitrofurans."