Nearly 27% of the food samples picked up for testing in 2020-21 did not conform to the standards and one out of every five non-conforming samples was found to be unsafe.
In a written reply, the food and consumer affairs ministry toldRajya Sabha that 23,493 out of the 86,696 food samples that were analysed were found non-conforming to the standards and 4,675 samples were found to be unsafe. Another 11,027 of the samples that were analysed were found as substandard.
According to the government data, a maximum of 1,921 food samples were found unsafe in Uttar Pradesh, followed byTamil Nadu(1,221) andKerala(543).Meghalayawas the only state where all 48 samples were found to be conforming with the prescribed standards.
The ministry informed theUpper Housethat 20,959 civil cases were registered against the offenders and 13,195 cases were decided. Another 3,608 criminal cases were initiated against the violators and 486 cases were decided. According to the ministry, the agencies have raised a penalty of Rs 4.21 crore against the violators.
It said no separate data is available with respect to action taken in respect of food grain distributed atPDSshops.