UP Water Crackdown: 146 Samples Substandard, 57 Unsafe Across 39 Districts In Uttar Pradesh

A major crackdown by the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration has raised serious concerns over packaged drinking water quality across the state. Testing of 242 samples revealed that 146 were substandard, while 57 were declared unsafe during microbiological analysis. Laboratory reports detected harmful microorganisms, including E. coli, coliform bacteria, yeast, and mold, posing severe public health risks. Unsafe samples were reported across 39 districts, with Ghaziabad and Hapur recording the highest numbers, alongside samples in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ayodhya, and Chandauli. Following the findings, FSDA Commissioner Dr Roshan Jacob issued orders suspending food licences and halting production at manufacturing units tied to unsafe samples. Units with substandard samples have been given one week to rectify deficiencies, requiring tests on subsequent batches before production can resume. Physical inspections will verify compliance, with non-compliant units facing legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act.