In a major pre-festival crackdown on food adulteration, a special team from Lucknow conducted a nearly 10-hour-long raid on five prominent oil mills in Aligarh. The operation revealed significant lapses in production, storage, and packaging standards. Around 9,000 litres of edible oil were seized on suspicion of adulteration, and 15 samples were collected for laboratory analysis.
The action was carried out under the direction of the Food Safety and Drug Administration. Assistant Commissioner (Food), Aligarh Division, Ajay Jaiswal stated that the team thoroughly examined compliance with prescribed standards, oil quality, storage conditions, and packaging procedures.
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Simultaneous Action at Five Units
The Lucknow team conducted coordinated raids at the following establishments:
- Malookchand Food Pvt. Ltd., Agra Road – Four mustard oil samples
- Shri Vanaspati Products Ltd., Agra Road – Three mustard oil samples
- M/s Bhagwan Das Oil Mill, Lodha (Atalpur) – Two mustard oil and one refined oil sample
- Shyam Enterprises, Sarasaul – One soybean oil and one refined palm oil sample
- M/s Dairy Foods, Devi Nagla – One refined oil, one vanaspati, and one cooking medium sample
Sources indicated that two units of Malookchand Food Pvt. Ltd., including the Madarak facility and Shri Vanaspati Products, were closely inspected from production to packaging and supply chain processes. There were also discussions about inspections at other associated units, though officials did not officially confirm this.
Poor Hygiene and Lapses in Compliance
During the inspection, several shortcomings were identified:
- Lack of cleanliness in production areas
- Improper maintenance of mustard and other edible oils
- Oil stored in open drums and tanks
- Deficiencies in quality control and packaging systems
- Non-compliance with established food safety standards
Due to suspected adulteration, approximately 9,000 litres of oil were sealed on the spot. The collected samples have been sent for laboratory testing, and further legal action will depend on the test results.
Crores at Stake in Local Oil Trade
Aligarh has a thriving edible oil industry, with mustard oil forming a major segment of the trade worth crores of rupees. The district hosts more than a dozen major oil mills, producing between 1,000 and 3,000 litres daily for distribution to other districts and states. Any compromise in quality or adulteration poses a serious health risk to consumers.
Largest Action This Year
Departmental sources described the raid as the first and most extensive action against oil mills in the district this year. Earlier operations were largely limited to retail markets, but this time enforcement agencies directly targeted large-scale production units.
The crackdown is reportedly part of intensified monitoring ahead of Holi, following strict instructions to curb food adulteration. Notably, local FSDA officials were not included in this special operation.
After concluding the formalities on Tuesday, the team returned to Lucknow. Attention is now focused on the laboratory reports, which will determine the extent of further legal proceedings against the concerned oil mills.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
