Gujarat food raid: 2,548 kg adulterated mawa seized in Sabarkantha, licence suspended
Synopsis
Gujarat's Food and Drugs Department found over 2,500 kg of allegedly adulterated mawa and unlicensed barfi production at a single dairy in Sabarkantha — a reminder that India's sweet supply chain remains a persistent food-safety blind spot, especially ahead of high-demand seasons.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat Food and Drugs Department seized 2,548 kg of allegedly adulterated mawa worth ₹5.10 lakh from Bholenath Dairy , Rozad village , Sabarkantha on 21 May 2025 .
An additional 550 kg of mawa produced in severely unhygienic conditions was destroyed on the spot.
Illegal production of sweet barfi without required licences was also uncovered during the raid.
The dairy's food licence has been suspended with immediate effect and an Improvement Notice issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act .
Samples of mawa and barfi have been sent for laboratory analysis; further legal action will follow once results are received.
The raid was conducted on the instructions of State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya as part of a statewide food adulteration crackdown.
The Gujarat Food and Drugs Department seized 2,548 kilograms of allegedly adulterated mawa worth approximately ₹5.10 lakh during a surprise raid on Bholenath Dairy in Rozad village, Talod taluka, Sabarkantha district, officials confirmed on Thursday, 21 May. An additional 550 kilograms of mawa found in severely unhygienic conditions was declared unfit for human consumption and destroyed on the spot.
How the Raid Unfolded
The operation was carried out by the Gandhinagar Flying Squad of the Food and Drugs Department following specific intelligence inputs about irregular activities at the dairy unit. The action was conducted under the direct instructions of State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya, as part of an intensified statewide crackdown on food adulteration and unlicensed food manufacturing.
Inspection teams found that adulterated mawa was allegedly being produced on a large scale at the facility. Investigators also discovered that sweet barfi was being manufactured illegally, without the required licences or regulatory approvals.
What Officials Found Inside
Authorities described the conditions inside the dairy premises as extremely unhygienic. The 550 kilograms of mawa produced under those conditions was deemed highly harmful to public health and was immediately destroyed at the site, the department said in an official statement.
Food Safety officers collected samples of loose mawa and barfi from the premises and dispatched them to a laboratory for forensic analysis as part of formal legal proceedings. Further legal action against the dairy is expected once laboratory reports are received.
Licence Suspended, Notices Issued
The Food and Drugs Department has issued an Improvement Notice to Bholenath Dairy under the Food Safety and Standards Act for alleged violations of food safety regulations. The dairy's food licence has been suspended with immediate effect, pending the outcome of further proceedings.
Government's Warning on Food Adulteration
State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya issued a stern warning in the wake of the raid. 'The state government will never forgive elements who play with public health merely for profit,' he said. He added that the Food and Drugs Department would sustain strict inspections and surveillance against adulteration and illegal food-related activities across Gujarat in the period ahead.
This action is part of a broader pattern of food safety enforcement across Gujarat, with flying squads deployed to act on tip-offs targeting dairy and sweet-manufacturing units ahead of peak demand seasons.
Point of View
But the real accountability test lies in whether criminal proceedings follow the lab reports — or whether the case quietly closes with a fine. Gujarat's flying squad model, driven by intelligence inputs, is more targeted than routine inspections, but its deterrent value depends entirely on prosecution rates, which the government has not disclosed. With festive and wedding seasons driving peak mawa demand, the timing of this crackdown is notable — but one high-profile raid should not substitute for systematic, year-round surveillance of unregistered dairy units.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Gujarat food raid at Sabarkantha?
Authorities seized 2,548 kilograms of allegedly adulterated mawa worth approximately ₹5.10 lakh from Bholenath Dairy in Rozad village, Talod taluka, Sabarkantha district. An additional 550 kilograms of mawa found in severely unhygienic conditions was destroyed on the spot.
Why was the Bholenath Dairy raided?
The Gandhinagar Flying Squad of the Gujarat Food and Drugs Department acted on specific intelligence inputs about irregular activities at the dairy. Preliminary investigation revealed large-scale adulterated mawa production and unlicensed manufacturing of sweet barfi at the premises.
What action has been taken against Bholenath Dairy?
The dairy's food licence has been suspended with immediate effect and an Improvement Notice has been issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act. Further legal action is pending the results of laboratory analysis of samples collected during the raid.
Who ordered the Gujarat food adulteration crackdown?
The raid was conducted under the instructions of Gujarat State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya as part of an intensified statewide drive against food adulteration and illegal food manufacturing. Pansheriya said the government 'will never forgive elements who play with public health merely for profit.'
What happens next after the mawa samples are tested?
Food Safety officers have sent samples of loose mawa and barfi to a laboratory for analysis. Once the lab reports are received, the Food and Drugs Department has said it will initiate further legal proceedings against the dairy unit.
