FDA said the food products worth a total of Rs 67.20 crore were seized during the three-month period, while 875 people were arrested in various cases. It inspected 1,803 hotels, restaurants, dhabas, clubs and similar establishments resulting in 948 improvement notices and the suspension of 199 licences. The department also collected 2,766 samples of milk, milk products and other food products for testing and seized stock valued at Rs 5.40 crore, the note said. As per the note, significant portion of the enforcement action was directed at prohibited food products, including paan masala and gutkha. The FDA registered First Information Reports (FIRs) in 644 cases involving the production, sale, distribution and transportation of such products. It arrested 867 people and seized 110 vehicles, along with stock worth Rs 19.62 crore, it added. FDA also conducted 696 raids targeting various food products other than prohibited items, milk and milk products. The products seized included edible oil, mangoes, laddus, khava, bakery products, candy, jaggery, ghee, dates, ice cream and kulfi, frozen desserts, spices, supari and palm products. The value of the seized stock in these raids stood at Rs 42.17 crore. The FDA said inspections of hotels and restaurants also revealed several serious violations of food safety requirements including a lack of clean water and proper drainage, breaches in the cold chain, inadequate refrigeration temperatures, large-scale cockroach infestation and unhygienic food-handling practices. They also found deficiencies in employee medical examinations and training, poor structural and hygienic conditions, and risks of cross-contamination. Further, the note said that in some establishments, raw chicken was found stored in open containers and cut vegetables had not been properly cleaned. There was also an absence of records for potable water testing, unhygienic floors and utensils, defective drainage, peeling wall plaster and food residues on utensils. This is an issue that Times Now Digital's "E-Comms Hiding Health Info" campaign has been highlighting and reporting. Whether it is consumer complaints, what health experts and legal experts believe or the measures the FSSAI has taken so far. The campaign has highlighted how India's quick commerce and e-commerce boom cannot undermine consumers' right to information and how consumer awareness and transparency is critical going forward. Therefore, the decision and these declarations are significant developments in an issue that Times Now Digital's campaign has consistently highlighted and reported on. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Business, Economy and around the World. Vikas Kumar is Deputy Editor (Business) at Times Now driving coverage across policy, economy and markets. He possesses nearly a decade of experience i... View More