The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated prosecution proceedings against three food companies—Surya Food & Agro Ltd, maker of Priyagold biscuits, Dodla Dairy Ltd and UEIR Organic Foods Pvt Ltd—over alleged serious food-safety violations. The action follows consumer complaints, inspections and laboratory tests that reportedly uncovered concerns involving ingredients, contamination and pesticide residues.
Serious Questions Over Food Quality
The case involving Surya Food & Agro has raised concerns about ingredient sourcing and manufacturing hygiene. Following a consumer complaint, FSSAI inspected the company’s facilities and alleged that bran intended for cattle feed, rather than human consumption, was being used as a fibre source in Priyagold biscuits.
Inspectors also reportedly identified multiple hygiene deficiencies, including inadequate pest control, improper storage and segregation of raw materials, poor personnel hygiene, insufficient maintenance and mishandling of intermediate formulations. Following these findings, the regulator suspended the company’s licence, and the competent authority sanctioned prosecution.
The allegations are significant because biscuits are widely consumed packaged products, making ingredient quality and manufacturing controls essential to public health.
Dairy Contamination and Organic Food Concerns
FSSAI’s action against Dodla Dairy reportedly concerns milk samples in which detergent was allegedly detected. Such findings raise questions about contamination risks, processing practices and the effectiveness of quality-control systems in dairy production.
In the case of UEIR Organic Foods, laboratory testing allegedly detected residues of nine pesticides in organic raisins. The findings raise concerns about pesticide management, sourcing and compliance with the standards governing products marketed as organic.
Together, the three cases highlight potential weaknesses at different stages of the food supply chain, from raw-material procurement and processing to residue monitoring and product verification.
Legal Action and Potential Consequences
FSSAI, established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, can inspect facilities, collect samples, suspend or cancel licences and initiate prosecution where violations warrant legal action. Moving beyond warnings or corrective notices, these proceedings could expose the companies to legal penalties if the allegations are established.
Potential consequences include reputational damage, heightened regulatory scrutiny, disruption to sales and possible product recalls or withdrawals, depending on further findings and regulatory directions. However, the exact chargesheets, affected product quantities and courts handling the proceedings have not been publicly disclosed in the information provided. Detailed company responses are also awaited.
Consumer Trust Must Be Earned Through Accountability
The cases underline why food safety cannot depend solely on brand recognition or marketing claims. Consumers expect packaged foods, dairy products and organic-labelled items to meet rigorous standards. Transparent investigations, credible laboratory testing and timely legal proceedings will be essential to establish responsibility. Ultimately, effective enforcement must protect consumers while ensuring that each company receives due process and that any penalties are proportionate to proven violations.
(With agency inputs)
