A total of 14,599 food samples out of 74,010 in various States were analysed and found to be adulterated or misbranded in 2014-15, according to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
After seizure of such food items, 2,676 criminal and 7,860 civil cases have been filed against the offenders, Health Minister J.P Nadda informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday in a written reply.
He said in 2014-15, there were 1,402 convictions by various State governments, adding that data regarding cancellation of licences by States/Union territories and UTs and arrests made by them are not maintained centrally.
In a separate reply, Nadda said the government had increased surveillance of food articles, including milk.
“Milk and other food articles have been included in the surveillance plan for States prepared by a Working Group of Food Safety Commissioners taking into account various parameters, including consumption pattern,” he said, adding that States are at liberty to modify the surveillance plan to suit local requirements.