India’s apex food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has launched legal proceedings for prosecution against three prominent food business operators—Surya Food & Agro, Dodla Dairy, and UEIR Organic Foods—citing severe compromises in product quality and manufacturing hygiene.

The regulator announced the strict enforcement measures in a social media update on Saturday, confirming it has "initiated legal proceedings for prosecution" against the firms following non-compliance issues uncovered during food sampling and factory inspections.

Surya Food & Agro: Animal feed bran found in biscuits

Legal action against Surya Food & Agro, the manufacturer of Priyagold biscuits, stems from a consumer complaint that prompted an official premise inspection. Regulators uncovered alarming manufacturing practices and a complete lack of basic hygiene protocols.

"Bran meant for cattle feed and not intended for human consumption was found being used as a raw material in Priyagold biscuit manufacturing as a source of fibre," the regulator said.

Inspecting officers noted that the gunny bags storing the raw material explicitly stated the contents were intended for animal feed. FSSAI officials additionally flagged broad non-compliances across plant sanitation, pest mitigation, proper storage and segregation of raw components, worker hygiene, structural upkeep, and the handling of intermediate formulations.

Prior to filing formal prosecution charges, the food authority had already suspended the operational licence of Surya Food & Agro due to the severity of the violations.

Dodla Dairy: Milk contaminated with chemical cleaning agents

In the case involving Dodla Dairy, standard regulatory testing revealed serious quality deviations in its full cream milk supply. Initial testing declared the regulatory sample substandard due to failure to meet mandatory milk fat parameters.

After Dodla Dairy appealed the initial finding, the sample was forwarded to the Referral Food Laboratory for secondary verification. The referral analysis "confirmed that the sample was unsafe due to the presence of detergent/caustic soda and substandard due to milk fat below the minimum prescribed limit."

Concluding that the presence of industrial cleaning agents posed a clear health hazard under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the competent authority issued formal sanctions authorising prosecution proceedings against Dodla Dairy and associated entities linked to the production and distribution of the batch.

UEIR organic foods: Pesticide residues discovered in yellow raisins

In a third proceeding, UEIR Organic Foods faces prosecution after routine lab checks detected illegal pesticide residues in samples of yellow raisins distributed by the firm. Further legal steps are currently underway against all three entities under the relevant safety statutes. (PTI)