Key Update 

The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has suspended the licences of 110 packaged drinking water brands across Uttar Pradesh after laboratory tests confirmed they failed to meet safety standards.

FSDA Commissioner Roshan Jacob ordered a statewide inspection drive from Lucknow following a surge in complaints about adulterated and substandard bottled water sold by local manufacturers. Over the past two months, officials collected 112 samples from districts across the state to assess compliance with prescribed quality norms.

Labs Confirm Bacterial and Yeast Presence

Authorities tested 86 samples in state laboratories and sent 26 to a central laboratory for further verification. The tests detected bacterial and yeast contamination in several samples, prompting immediate action. Officials warned that contaminated drinking water can cause serious health problems. Acting in the interest of public health, the FSDA suspended the licences of the non-compliant brands without delay.

Authorities Halt Production and Sales

The FSDA has directed district officials to shut down the manufacturing units of the affected brands immediately. It has also banned the sale, storage, and distribution of contaminated water. The agency has ordered companies to submit detailed stock reports within 48 hours. Enforcement teams have begun monitoring markets to prevent further circulation of the unsafe products.

Repeat Offences Trigger Stricter Action

This move comes weeks after the FSDA initiated proceedings against 39 bottled water companies for similar violations. Officials said repeated failures point to systemic weaknesses in quality control, particularly among smaller and local manufacturers. Jacob said the findings have raised serious concerns about the safety of locally bottled drinking water, especially in semi-urban and rural areas where consumers widely rely on such brands.

Authorities have warned that they will continue to take strict legal action against any company that manufactures or sells adulterated or substandard drinking water.

Source: Hindustan Times