A substandard batch of soan papdi resulted in severe legal repercussions for a Patanjali Foods manager and two others, leading to six months in jail and fines. The incident began when an inspector collected samples from Kanaha Ji Distributor in Ramnagar and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd in Haridwar.
In May 2020, forensic testing was conducted at the state food and drug testing laboratory in Rudrapur, Udham Singh Nagar. By December, the food safety department received a conclusive report, sealing the fate of three individuals: Lila Dhar Pathak, a businessman; Ajay Joshi, the distributor; and Abhishek Kumar, a Patanjali assistant manager.
Following numerous hearings, the substandard quality of the sweet led to Pathak, Joshi, and Kumar being sentenced to six months in jail under Section Fifty of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Additionally, Pathak was fined Rs five thousand, Joshi Rs ten thousand, and Kumar faced unspecified penalties.
A food safety officer stated, “The evidence presented in court clearly demonstrated the substandard quality of the product.” This case underscores the serious consequences of failing to meet food safety standards, highlighting the importance of stringent quality control and adherence to regulations to ensure consumer safety.
