Lucknow, Aug 23 : The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), intensifying its searches against food adulteration ahead of the festive season, seized a huge quantity of 'khoya' (solidified milk) and collected at least 28 food samples from various parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Kanpur Dehat, on Sunday.

The FSDA team impounded food items and adulterants worth Rs 1.50 lakh during searches in Kanpur Dehat and Kanpur Nagar districts. The agencyâ??s enforcement drive centred around khoya, with its more than two dozen teams conducting inspections in more than 24 locations across Uttar Pradesh.

During the campaign, suspicious materials used for adulteration were seized, a large quantity of khoya was destroyed, and an FIR was lodged in a case in Kanpur Dehat.

A total of 28 food samples were collected for testing while food items and adulterants worth approximately Rs 1.50 lakh were destroyed.

Action was taken against an individual for using adulterants, while proceedings were initiated to suspend the food registrations of three food business operators.

During an inspection of a khoya manufacturing unit in Badshahpur village, the team discovered a cream-separating machine, khoya furnaces, skimmed milk powder (SMP), and hydrogen peroxide. About one quintal of prepared khoya was also found on-site. The team collected samples of the SMP and hydrogen peroxide for testing and destroyed the prepared khoya on the spot.

During this operation, 175 packets of SMP (contained in seven sacks) and about 15 litres of hydrogen peroxide -- intended for mixing into food products -- were seized from the premises. Samples of the SMP and hydrogen peroxide were taken for analysis. Approximately 100 kilograms of contaminated khoya were also destroyed during the operation.

Taking action regarding the use of adulterants in food products, the police registered a case at the Rasulabad police station under Sections 274 and 275 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

During an inspection of another khoya manufacturing unit in Badshahpur, the team discovered 'Safolite' â?? a chemical used in khoya production, along with three large cooking pans/furnaces. The team seized the adulterant and initiated proceedings to cancel the unit's food registration.

"No objectionable material was found during the inspection of another unit; however, a sample of khoya was collected for testing from the stock of approximately 50 litres of milk and 50 litres of khoya available there," an official statement said.

An inspection of the khoya furnace in Bhola Nagar, Jhinjhak, revealed 10 litres of refined soybean oil, 10 packets of SMP, and approximately 32 kilograms of prepared khoya. The unit was found to be operating under extremely unhygienic and unsanitary conditions. The operator admitted to producing khoya using refined oil, vanaspati (hydrogenated vegetable oil), and SMP.

The team destroyed the 32 kilograms of prepared khoya and 10 litres of refined oil on the spot and suspended the unit's food registration.

During these operations, approximately 4.30 quintals of khoya, valued at an estimated Rs 1.07 lakh and stored in unhygienic and unsanitary conditions, were destroyed on the spot.

/IANS