Updated: Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:03 (IST) 28 food samples, including tea leaves and laddus, were found to have failed the food safety department’s inspection in Bareilly. Two specimens were declared ‘unsafe’ due to their deadly colour. The department is taking action against adulterated food items and appealed to the people to be careful. Food department official shows the seized goods to Jagran correspondent, Bareilly. The investigation report of the special campaign being conducted by the Food Safety Department to ensure the quality of food items sold in the markets during the festive season is out. In the month of September, the department collected samples of food items from various markets in the city and rural areas. According to the laboratory report received on November 19, a total of 28 samples failed, of which two food items were declared unsafe for human health. Remove Advertisement Only Read News According to Food Safety Department Assistant Commissioner Puneet Srivastava, excessive amount of color was found in the sample of Bundi Laddu taken from Rakesh Mithaiwala’s shop in Nehru Nagar Shahi, Mirganj. According to the rules, the amount of color in laddu cannot exceed 100 ppm or parts per million, but in the investigation, this amount reached about 240 ppm. This is about two and a half times more than the standard, which can pose a direct threat to human health. Similarly, the sample of Hamida Color Masala tea taken from Iqbal grocery store of Fatehganj West was also declared unsafe. Here too, color was used in excess of the prescribed limit, which is considered to be seriously harmful to health. According to the department, synthetic colors added to tea leaves can have adverse effects on health if consumed for a long time. In the report released from the laboratory, many other samples were found in substandard category. The oil used in the sample of grammeal laddu taken from Gupta Sweets in Gautam Market, CB Ganj of the city was found to be of low quality. Similarly, the sample of flour taken from Jayanti Gupta’s shop in CBganj also failed to meet the standard. The sample of Peda taken from Ganpat Sweet of Nawabganj was found to have less fat content. At the same time, the amount of fat in the cheese sample taken from Dheeraj Sweets located at Delapir junction of the city was also found to be less than the standard. Besides this, many other samples related to khoya, barfi, gram flour, bhujia, namkeen, laddu, sweets and oily food items also failed the test. Officials said adulteration, low fat, poor oil, lack of color and quality were found in most of the samples. The Food Safety Department has issued a warning to all shopkeepers and food producers that strict action will be taken against the sale of such adulterated and poor quality food items. The department is preparing to issue notices in these cases soon. The work to test the filled samples of milk powder is ongoing by the Food Safety Department. Chief Food Safety Officer Akshay Goyal said that the team of the department is working to ensure the quality of food items in the markets. The team took a sample of skimmed milk powder in Ballia market of Amla tehsil on suspicion. It was sent to the lab for testing.